Defensive superiority made all the difference for HKCC Babes at the weekend as they held off the challenge of well organised but ill-disciplined Comvita City Ladies at So Kon Po on Saturday. The first ten minutes set the tone of the game – HKCC dominating possession and territory, camped near the City try line but lacking the killer touch in linking phases together.
Making her full debut at tighthead prop, Jo Harvey impressed in early scrum exchanges, as HKCC set out clear attacking intent. But the Babes’ attacking play in the loose was sloppy, with miscommunication and some badly chosen running lines meaning that City were twice able to break out of their own 22 after withstanding prolonged pressure. The third time proved the charm though, as the experienced head and hands of fly half Julia Mason darted through a gap for the first try. And City were soon down to 14, a sin bin for repeat infractions at the breakdown. The resultant overlap was exploited with a sublime, scintillating, beautifully weighted, miss pass to inside centre Harriet Jamieson to touch down for HKCC’s second. City came back strongly, turning over the ball within a few minutes of the restart and making their first sustained break into the Babes’ half. City established their most promising position, with a line out on the ten yard line, but were thwarted by the half-time whistle.
The second half was dominated by a mis-firing scrum, with City first looking to run down the clock on a second sin-bin, and then the tiredness of novice packs beginning to show. The referee patiently called multiple resets to ensure that both sides scrummaged safely as the spectators (both on the sidelines and amongst the backs) looked on. Once out, City proved unable to make forward ground as HKCC kept up their high tackle rate, whilst niggling errors meant HKCC was unable to convert possession into points. But Captain Emily Tuck kept a cool head, with the Babes making smart decisions at penalties and making more use of the kicking game. And this paid off, City pushed back into their own half by a thumping kick from the fly half, and from resultant phases (including some outstanding rucking from Harvey, cementing her status as Player of the Game) the ball was shipped out to the right wing for Rosie Hui, who didn’t put a foot wrong all day, to race in for the third try of the game.
The game ended on a slightly sour note, with the referee spotting a punch thrown and duly red-carding the offending City player. HKCC pressed for a fourth try in the final minutes, but couldn’t find the breakthrough, leaving Head Coach Darren Cartlidge to reflect after the game that, “A win’s a win, but there is much to improve upon from this performance, particularly in building our attacking phases of play”. HKCC will look to make it three wins on the trot, against Valley at 1800 next Saturday.
HKCC Babes
Eva Rona, Cheryl Gourley, Jo Harvey, Lainie Man, Katie Rowbottom, Sarah Higgins, Wendy Sham, Rosie Wright, Emily Tuck, Lynda Nazer, Julia Mason, Harriet Jamieson, Lucy Thomson, Rosanne Hui, Apple Ng
Substitutes: Christy Igksa, Serene Yee, Olivia Lai
Tries: Julia Mason, Harriet Jamieson, Rosie Hui
