Drags keep spirited Nomads scoreless, rack up 56

Above: Nik Brunner (pictured playing against Drags for Scorps) had a typically robust game for Drags against Nomads, lining up some crunching hits in midfield. "I like it when they run straight at me," he commented after the game.

From the quill of none other than Condor himself

A good win Saturday (December 6) against Nomads 56 - 0 see's us once again on our winning way. The game was never in doubt however everyone on the day knew that we needed to play to our game plan and execute with discipline and structure. On both these points Drags delivered and we never lost our defensive or attacking shape from start to finish. It has to said that this was a very different Nomads to the guys we played earlier in the year. They had an improved forward pack with a few familiar faces in the front row who originally were PLA players on loan to Causeway Bay. So we did have a game on our hands after all. Also Nomads have a great team spirit which was most evident in the second half when they held us scoreless for good 20 min. We could all learn to fight that hard when we are 26 points down. Well done Nomads.

Drags forwards once again dominated from the front with our trusted front row combination of Horse Nolan, our Captain for the day, Alasdair Frost and Richard Gallagher with Adam Harper also joining in for a strong second half display. Overall the report card would reflect a very solid performance from all of them and the Nomads pack was always on the back foot. We had a new pairing in the lock positions with Rob Jones teaming up with Drags debutant Dan Watson. Both players had strong games with Dan in particular jumping well in the line out and both had a number of strong runs with ball in hand. At the back Marcus Neill back from his stint with the 1's led a strong mobile back row with Andrew Corkery and Hayden Giordine playing at eight.

Hayden in particular played well and managed to bag four tries in a clear cut man of the match display. Congratulations Hayden. In the backs finemaster Junior Naylor always had something to say and kept everyone focused on the task at hand. This week we had Shane Wallis back from injury which was welcomed news leading our 7th centre combination for the season in Leon Scott and David Price. On the wings we had the tried a tested combinations of David Guthrie and Callum Nieto with Dan Parr joining us from the 1's chimming in at fullback. The backline combinations worked well and we always looked in control with some strong runs from Shane leading the way. We had tries from Dan Parr and Callum with the rest coming from the forwards. Who it has to be said acted like backs for most of the game. Hayden four tries, Dan Watson, Alistair and Hewittson all running in one try a piece.

In summary a resounding win and true to the game plan we didn't consider a single point. Well done to the whole team including the reserve bench of Gavin Bowering, Steve Mathews, Adam Harper, Bob Toresco and Rupert Clarke. Without fresh legs coming off the bench we would have stalled at forty points I'm sure so everyone played a vital part in getting us over the half centry. Thank you.

Club hold on against spirited DEA

From JP

Following a good second half demolition of Causeway Bay last week, Club came up a resurgent DEA whose tails were up following their victory over Aberdeen the previous week. Having already beaten DEA soundly in the pre-season Plate Knock-Out Final a few weeks previous, Club were quietly confident that they could repeat the feat up at King's Park on Saturday evening.

DEA started strongly and soon gained the upper hand, however. It was only due to a heroic tap tackle from Danny Parr on the right wing that saved us going down by a try five minutes into the game. The first half was one of the most frustrating 40 minutes of rugby the boys had probably ever played in, with a constant barrage of whistle-blowing from Hong Kong’s finest. Trying to be somewhat diplomatic, I must say I do not have the foggiest what on earth most of the penalties were for.

Naturally, "Left Hook" Rory Hussey was right in the mix and no doubt gave away a few penalties for being an Irish version of Michael Bolton. Tim Griffin stepped up in the heat of the battle and gave us an amusing display when taking on the four foot tall opposition scrum half. Other than that, we were penalized constantly in the scrums for no other reason other than pushing. This was hugely frustrating for the boys as it didn’t allow us to get into a pattern and get through some phases. The DEA line out was working well, helping them stay in the game and enable them to kick a few goals and keep things very tight going into half time. Thankfully we managed to get our noses in front with a superb try from Pat Foreman in open play with the ball changing hands many times and delighting the away crowd of the resident Scorps drunkards!

The second half was a better display albeit frustrating because of our decision making and pressing the panic button when in the final third. Despite that, there were a huge amount of positive factors in the second half as the Piggies stepped it up on the physicality front with the likes of Ridgeway, Watson, Bolland and Washington making some hard yards despite being about as mobile as parking meters. The back row also started to gel and get around the park negating the impact of the DEA back row led by Nigel Clarke who as always had a strong game. In Club's back row, there were solid performances from Marin, Michael Bolton & Tim Edgar.

There was some super stuff in the backs as well with the likes of Jimmy Kibble and Pat Foreman imposing themselves and getting across the gainline, bringing in the pace boys of Perkins, McKee and Raby. Unfortunately, when it came to making our mark from set pieces and finishing in their 22, we failed to deliver.

The good news is that the boys are coming close to gelling and being a much more complete unit, which is just as well with much harder tests to come. With the score at 13-6 with 10 minutes to go, we failed to take one or two kicks at goal that would have put us out of sight. The good news for the crowd and Q’s hernia was that this created a thrilling ending, with DEA camped in our 22 for the final 5 minutes trying to steal a draw from nowhere. Thankfully due to a gutsy defensive display, we held them out and breathed a huge sigh of relief when the whistle blew for full time rather than another penalty against Club! The final spectacle was watching Tim Griffin having a row with a dustbin.

Well done lads – plenty of positives to build on for the impending almighty smash against Valley next week at home.

Rugby Section – bring your vocal cords please and Man Up! Ta, JP

No complacency for Club, more sting for Scorps

Friday night is here again, which can only mean one thing - tomorrow is Saturday, the day consecrated to rugby and beer (preferably in that order).

Club, unbeaten and 14 points clear of Valley at the top of Division One, will play HKCC at the Football Club, kicking off at the usual time of 6pm. Club are without Nigel Hobler, Dan Parr and Andrew Chambers this weekend, bringing Pat Foreman, Callum Nieto and your correspondent into the side. 'Big' Tim Robinson (the lock), thereby distinguised from 'Little' Tim Robinson (the winger), marks his return to Hong Kong rugby by making the Club bench (after playing for Drags). Jared Smith makes his starting debut at openside for the injured Rory Hussey, while Kris Marin returns to replace Rob Mills, also injured, at number eight.

With no other side having any realistic hope of catching Club in the league phase of the season, they will have to be sure to maintain the levels of intensity and determination that have carried them this far. Aberdeen may not be able to win the league, but Club remain the ultimate scalp in this division and you can be sure their opponents will come out with tomahawks in hand.

In Division Two, it's a 3pm Club derby for two teams with contrasting fortunes. Dragons have been in effervescent form, with a powerful set of forwards that have dominated every pack they have encountered, and a lightning backline. Plus they have Phil Reid. Scorpions, on the other hand, are having a miserable season. Last year's Division Two Grand Champions are languishing at the bottom of the table this year, with just one win (that remarkable 28-22 fightback win over Valley on 6 October). Scorps will know that they badly need to show some spirit and aggression to restore a sense of pride in their season. But what better occasion to start a turnaround than against their Clubmates from Drags? Scorps will need to dig deep but they can challenge here if they come in with the right attitude and get off to a good start.

It's a similar story in Division Two, where Select bestride the table like a colossus, while Sequins bring up the rear. Sadly, no-one tells me anything about these teams so I can provide no further illumination. Animal's back hair could have fallen out and Sam Cooper could have become anorexic for all I know... In any case, Select's game against SJM Macau has been postponed while Sequins will take on the Kowloon Pussies at So Kon Po. If someone would like to tell me what happens in that game, I'd be much obliged.

Also... PLEASE TAKE SOME BL*ODY PHOTOS AND SEND THEM TO ME SO I CAN PUT THEM UP ON THIS BLOG. Send them to adam.harper@asia.ing.com

I'm off for a quiet dinner and an early night after something of a night of it with Nick 'Jamesy' James & co last night. Bring on tomorrow!

Harps


Club v HKCC, 6pm, HKFC

1. Adam Harper
2.Tom Cameron
3. Peter Spizzirri
4. Tim Griffin
5. Angus Washington
6. Tim Edgar
7. Jared Smith (AQ)
8. Kris Marin

9. Peter McKee
10. James Kibble
11. Pat Foreman
12. Richard Rouse (c)
13. Nigel D'Acre
14. Callum Nieto
15. Mike McKee (AQ)

Replacements:

Damian Babis
Ben Stobart
Tim Robinson (BIG)
Adam Raby (AQ)
Ed Johnson
Tim Robinson

Drags v Scorps. 3pm, HKFC

1. Rob Naylor
2. Ben Stobart
3. Damien Babis
4. Peyton Burnett
5. Tim Robinson (Big)
6. Shannon Ford
7. Rob Hewitson
8. Steve Mathews
9. Phil Reid ( C)

10. Robin Bredbury
11. Ed Johnston
12. Simon Shoebridge
13. Tim Robinson (not so Big)
14. Adam Raby
15. Ed Cosgrove

Replacements:

Ben Harris
Ben Michael
Andy Walters
Troy Hogan
Romain Perret
Diarmuid Kinsella