Evening all
Bit of, er, fun on Saturday for Dragons and Scorpions (final score around 35-12 to Drags but don't quote me on that). Scorps came out firing with all the guts and application you would expect from a team bearing that name, and from any team billed as the underdog in an intra-HKFC derby. Drags may not be happy with the manner of their victory but they walked away league champs after Valley succumbed to PLA 23-20.
In particular, I would like to offer the front-rower's salute to the men of the Scorps front row: Messrs Wong, Nazer, Kim and Browne, who fronted up admirably. While Drags had the upper hand in the scrummage, this determined band and the rest of the Scorps pack tested them every step of the way - and came back at the Drags with interest on occasion.
Apart from that, it was a scrappy, aggressive, niggly and rather disjointed match, full of venom but strangely muted as a contest compared to some of the Scorps v Drags superclasicos of old. I don't think the referee enjoyed it either - he kept blowing his whistle to try and liven it up. I tried to cheer him up a bit by asking what was the only thing worse than refereeing a club side? Refereeing two of course. But he wasn't really in the mood for my outstanding banter so I let it drop.
The game was really only notable for being Andy Boucher's last match for HKFC - for the Bouchers are off to the USA - and for the debut of a young man from New Zealand called Sam, who terrorised the Scorps from number eight and who I doubt will be playing much more for Dragons if he stays in Hong Kong. Sam is a friendly, amiable soul unless you happen to be anywhere near him on a rugby pitch as part of the opposing team. Then he would be better named Samageddon. After a few contact situations with him on Monday in which I came off marginally second best, I would counsel a very low body position and the advantage of a long run-up to his future opponents. But he seems like a bl*ody useful chap to have on your side, so welcome, Sam.
Furthermore, a strong Select side also celebrated victory in Division 3, beating Macau 25-21, while Sequins were likewise crowned champs in Division 4 with a hefty win over Causeway Bay.
Harps
Showing posts with label scorps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scorps. Show all posts
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Crunch Time in Crisp January
Good morning all
Welcome back, happy new year and all of that. I'm sure you will agree this is the very best time of year to be in HK: fresh, clear weather (by our dismal standards) and an invigorating chill in the air. I am beginning to think I might have already been in this fair city too long, though. Temperatures a fraction over 10 degrees celsius hardly put you in danger of frostbite, yet I have started wearing a scarf to work and jogging trousers at training. God only knows what would I would have to wear if I'd been back in England over the last few weeks, where rugby conditions have been like those in the picture below. Better not to think about it.
The rugger's off to an interesting start as well. Club had hoped to hone their gameplan against DEA last weekend and get into their groove before facing up to Valley on Saturday. Unfortunately, DEA hadn't read the script and forced our 1st XV to complete an escape of the kind that would have made Harry Houdini or Steve McQueen proud. Despite having no scrummage to speak of, Nigel Clarke's men were bolstered by the return of several of their leading players and had Club on the rack at 27-15 with three minutes to go.
The fact that Club found themselves in such a perilous situation is worrying: I wasn't able to see the game but I am told that DEA were able to turn over our ruck ball with alarming regularity. But the fact that the team was able to raise its game when staring defeat in the face and find two scores in the dying seconds confirms the strength of character that unquestionably exists within the side. Tries from Dan Watson and Ollie Jones leveled the final scoreline at 27-27, although a last-minute conversion attempt could even have seized an unlikely victory for Club. Amazingly, this was bottom-placed DEA's second draw of the season - they also finished level with HKCC before the break.
Club face a Herculean task against Valley this weekend. Our friendly neighbours are 18 points clear of us at the top of Division one. They have not missed a trick all season, racking up seven wins out of seven and a massive five bonus points. Club will have to find something extra to change the course of this season by beating them on their own ground on Saturday - there is no question of that. Last time the two sides met, Valley played the smarter game - retaining and recycling the ball much better and capitalising on Club's tendency that afternoon to squander good posession and lose discipline. But if Club can find both the driving desire to topple Valley and the clear heads to play to a sensible plan, this game can be theirs. There is so much energy and quality in the Club squad this season. If it can be harnessed, channeled and united, I am certain this team can see off Valley and go all the way in 2009.
Did you know that Dragons are the third-highest scoring team in all of Hong Kong men's rugby so far this season, having accumulated a whopping 300 points? Only Sequins in Division Four with 306 and BMW TPD (?) in Division Six with an incredible 353 have scored more.
But Drags found Scorpions determined to stem the flow last Saturday. After conceding 71 unanswered points in the last encounter between these two sides, Scorps were certainly battling the odds, but a first half display of enormous commitment and some luck (not to mention the siege-gun boot of Mike Glancy at fly-half, who also scored the first try of the match) carried Scorps to a 13-10 advantage at the break. Drags did not make their task any easier by seizing any opportunity to argue with each other throughout the afternoon - I will name no names here! - but their class ultimately shone through. They dominated possession and scored one lovely try in particular through Stevie Matthew that showcased the handling and continuity skills in the team. Although the fire-breathing Dragons threatened to stretch out a lead in the middle of the second half, Scorps had a sting in their tail (get it?), delivering a sharp final quarter to bring the game to a 28-20 close in Drags' favour.
Graham Fleming, Antony Philips, and Alasdair Frost also crossed for Drags, while your correspondent made a tremendous solo run from under his own goal posts, dummied left and right, stepped, jinked, chipped, chased and gathered to score Scorps' second. Actually it was more like I fell over the line from a metre out, but they all count for the same eh?
This game reminded me of the very competitive, combative and hard-fought Scorps v Drags fixtures of my early days in HK - the 2004-2005 season, since you ask. It was fantastic that a genuine Scorps team - albeit with some outstanding newcomers in the ranks - were able to bring this fixture back to a more level playing field.
The afternoon was only marred by injuries to Rob Jones (ankle) and Ian Ridgeway (calf). Scrummages were bizarre all day with four loosehead props in the front row. For the uninitiated, this meant both sides found it hard to secure their own feed cleanly since the two looseheads actually playing at loosehead would always get a drive on, and the two looseheads playing at tighthead weren't able to stop it and hold the scrum steady. Following an hour or more of being bent into all kinds of unpleasant shapes by said Mr Ridgeway, I am resolved to avoid tighthead at all costs in the future and to treat lame excuses from Gary Hamp as to why he can't play there this afternoon (it's my shoulder you see, Harps) with the scepticism they deserve.
That's all for now chaps, see you on Thursday.
Harps
Welcome back, happy new year and all of that. I'm sure you will agree this is the very best time of year to be in HK: fresh, clear weather (by our dismal standards) and an invigorating chill in the air. I am beginning to think I might have already been in this fair city too long, though. Temperatures a fraction over 10 degrees celsius hardly put you in danger of frostbite, yet I have started wearing a scarf to work and jogging trousers at training. God only knows what would I would have to wear if I'd been back in England over the last few weeks, where rugby conditions have been like those in the picture below. Better not to think about it.
The rugger's off to an interesting start as well. Club had hoped to hone their gameplan against DEA last weekend and get into their groove before facing up to Valley on Saturday. Unfortunately, DEA hadn't read the script and forced our 1st XV to complete an escape of the kind that would have made Harry Houdini or Steve McQueen proud. Despite having no scrummage to speak of, Nigel Clarke's men were bolstered by the return of several of their leading players and had Club on the rack at 27-15 with three minutes to go.
The fact that Club found themselves in such a perilous situation is worrying: I wasn't able to see the game but I am told that DEA were able to turn over our ruck ball with alarming regularity. But the fact that the team was able to raise its game when staring defeat in the face and find two scores in the dying seconds confirms the strength of character that unquestionably exists within the side. Tries from Dan Watson and Ollie Jones leveled the final scoreline at 27-27, although a last-minute conversion attempt could even have seized an unlikely victory for Club. Amazingly, this was bottom-placed DEA's second draw of the season - they also finished level with HKCC before the break.
Club face a Herculean task against Valley this weekend. Our friendly neighbours are 18 points clear of us at the top of Division one. They have not missed a trick all season, racking up seven wins out of seven and a massive five bonus points. Club will have to find something extra to change the course of this season by beating them on their own ground on Saturday - there is no question of that. Last time the two sides met, Valley played the smarter game - retaining and recycling the ball much better and capitalising on Club's tendency that afternoon to squander good posession and lose discipline. But if Club can find both the driving desire to topple Valley and the clear heads to play to a sensible plan, this game can be theirs. There is so much energy and quality in the Club squad this season. If it can be harnessed, channeled and united, I am certain this team can see off Valley and go all the way in 2009.
Did you know that Dragons are the third-highest scoring team in all of Hong Kong men's rugby so far this season, having accumulated a whopping 300 points? Only Sequins in Division Four with 306 and BMW TPD (?) in Division Six with an incredible 353 have scored more.
But Drags found Scorpions determined to stem the flow last Saturday. After conceding 71 unanswered points in the last encounter between these two sides, Scorps were certainly battling the odds, but a first half display of enormous commitment and some luck (not to mention the siege-gun boot of Mike Glancy at fly-half, who also scored the first try of the match) carried Scorps to a 13-10 advantage at the break. Drags did not make their task any easier by seizing any opportunity to argue with each other throughout the afternoon - I will name no names here! - but their class ultimately shone through. They dominated possession and scored one lovely try in particular through Stevie Matthew that showcased the handling and continuity skills in the team. Although the fire-breathing Dragons threatened to stretch out a lead in the middle of the second half, Scorps had a sting in their tail (get it?), delivering a sharp final quarter to bring the game to a 28-20 close in Drags' favour.
Graham Fleming, Antony Philips, and Alasdair Frost also crossed for Drags, while your correspondent made a tremendous solo run from under his own goal posts, dummied left and right, stepped, jinked, chipped, chased and gathered to score Scorps' second. Actually it was more like I fell over the line from a metre out, but they all count for the same eh?
This game reminded me of the very competitive, combative and hard-fought Scorps v Drags fixtures of my early days in HK - the 2004-2005 season, since you ask. It was fantastic that a genuine Scorps team - albeit with some outstanding newcomers in the ranks - were able to bring this fixture back to a more level playing field.
The afternoon was only marred by injuries to Rob Jones (ankle) and Ian Ridgeway (calf). Scrummages were bizarre all day with four loosehead props in the front row. For the uninitiated, this meant both sides found it hard to secure their own feed cleanly since the two looseheads actually playing at loosehead would always get a drive on, and the two looseheads playing at tighthead weren't able to stop it and hold the scrum steady. Following an hour or more of being bent into all kinds of unpleasant shapes by said Mr Ridgeway, I am resolved to avoid tighthead at all costs in the future and to treat lame excuses from Gary Hamp as to why he can't play there this afternoon (it's my shoulder you see, Harps) with the scepticism they deserve.
That's all for now chaps, see you on Thursday.
Harps
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Holed below the waterline
Communique to: Rear Admiral Lord Harperington-Blogsmythe,
From: Commander of HMS Scorpion
Ref: Recent engagement with Imperial Battle Cruiser Dragon
Sir,
It is my solemn duty to report that HMS Scorpion suffered substantial damage at the hands of the Imperial Battlecruiser Dragon this Saturday last.
Upon entering the battle zone, we engaged the enemy but their superior speed in the aft section caused severe damage to our hull.
It is however my pleasure to report that the entire crew stuck to their stations with admirable bravery and devotion to duty. Of particular mention in this dispatch must be the entire for'ard section of the ship which held firm despite the attentions of the enemy, who appeared to be led by a horse!
The battle was short and somewhat sobering, so Sir Watsonian-Nothernbottom and I decided to make for the neutral wet harbour of Sportsmansk, where it seems our foe had also docked. Despite the attention of a particularly annoying pair of the enemy who appeared boringly bald and foreign and variously short and mildly facially hirsute, we were able to surmise that the ship was repairable despite the 62 hits we received.
By way of note, your lordship, we managed to land 7 shots ourselves to what had been previously a virtually impregnable defence. We have therefore made our way to dry dock at HMS TrainingField, where we will attempt to seal leaks before making way to the expected battle across the channel at Kingsypark on Saturday next.
Additional mention in this dispatch must be given to Able-Seamen Wilde and French who battled valiantly despite a severe bout of sea-sickness during a midway lull in the battle.
Yours in expectation of a reversal of fortune,
Commander Her Britannic Majesty's Ship Scorpion, Sir Andrew Bouchington-Blithertwit.
End Communique
From: Commander of HMS Scorpion
Ref: Recent engagement with Imperial Battle Cruiser Dragon
Sir,
It is my solemn duty to report that HMS Scorpion suffered substantial damage at the hands of the Imperial Battlecruiser Dragon this Saturday last.
Upon entering the battle zone, we engaged the enemy but their superior speed in the aft section caused severe damage to our hull.
It is however my pleasure to report that the entire crew stuck to their stations with admirable bravery and devotion to duty. Of particular mention in this dispatch must be the entire for'ard section of the ship which held firm despite the attentions of the enemy, who appeared to be led by a horse!
The battle was short and somewhat sobering, so Sir Watsonian-Nothernbottom and I decided to make for the neutral wet harbour of Sportsmansk, where it seems our foe had also docked. Despite the attention of a particularly annoying pair of the enemy who appeared boringly bald and foreign and variously short and mildly facially hirsute, we were able to surmise that the ship was repairable despite the 62 hits we received.
By way of note, your lordship, we managed to land 7 shots ourselves to what had been previously a virtually impregnable defence. We have therefore made our way to dry dock at HMS TrainingField, where we will attempt to seal leaks before making way to the expected battle across the channel at Kingsypark on Saturday next.
Additional mention in this dispatch must be given to Able-Seamen Wilde and French who battled valiantly despite a severe bout of sea-sickness during a midway lull in the battle.
Yours in expectation of a reversal of fortune,
Commander Her Britannic Majesty's Ship Scorpion, Sir Andrew Bouchington-Blithertwit.
End Communique
Sargant Speaks: Drags demolish Scorps
Murray's inimitable analysis of Drags' victory over our brethren in Scorps, plus a look ahead at Drags' trip to Guangzhou this Saturday. Playing the PLA away always seems to attract superlatives. Dinks once said they had the best lineout in Asia bar the Japanese national team. And Muzz is comparing playing at GZ to playing away at Twickenham or Eden Park. Frankly I think the similarities are limited. I haven't played at either of those stadia myself but I'd be willing to bet they have changing rooms and that you can have a shower without risk of catching typhoid at both. Harps
PS: What he would appear not to mention is the score - it was about 50-7.
Sargant Speaks:
These inter club games are always entertaining and this one was know exception with both teams prepared for a tough encounter. In years gone by we have ended up with both teams having extensive injuries but on this occasion it was a hard but fair contest with the only concern coming from some very mysterious referring decisions. More from him next weekend I suspect as we play PLA. In the first half it started off with both sets of forwards testing each other out. This is always the most difficult time in Drags Vs Scorps clashes as both teams are fresh and looking to make an impact.
Quickly though it became apparent that Drags strength lay in our backline attack with Stewart Magraw cross for the first of four tries. After that it was an entertaining affair with tries coming in from all over the park. The Drags backline was on fire and the passing and inte! rchange between them made the coach Marc Sexton confirm this the best backline display from a Drags team this season.
In all we scored four more tries with Tim Robinson, Richard Gallagher (the only forward to score in the first half) Magraw a second and finally Baz Perkins crossing for a great first half. Five tries to zero. In the second half we expected much of the same but Scorps had different idea's and they came out of the half time break with renewed energy. Some solid forward work from our brothers in Scorps resulted in better field position and inevitably a strong forwards surge ended with a try for Scorps which was well converted by Dave Beckett.
For our part we had a number of outstanding backline drives and continued to score even if it did mean we had to run the entire length of the ground to do it. The "Gas Man" Raby opened up the second half and also lead the kicking game with six conversions in all a solid display. Next to cross was Guy Payne our Captain for the day (congratulations Guy) playing a loose flanking role coming in from out wide, then ! Callum Nieto and finally another two tries for Stewart Magraw.
Man of the match was Baz Perkins for his sublime running skills which broke the Scorps backline on many occasions setting up a number of the tries and also crossing for two others although only one will count as the referee adjudged that Baz dropped the ball over the line. Clearly David Guthrie feels the record should reflect a try saving tackle from him but that shouldn't surprise anyone. No matter what the circumstances Baz had a great game so congratulations. Another Man of the match on debut.
All in all a great win and we continue on as leaders of the division with nex! t weekend being our game of the season against our arch rivals PL A. Last season this fixture was are only loss so it holds a huge challenge for the entire team. This season we want to go undefeated so the game next weekend in Guangzhou is vital. Last year we lost 12-17 in a hard fought contest and I know PLA are fired up to repeat the result this time around. Fact is they have home ground advantage and to say the crowd is hostile is an understatement.
We play in the army grounds and every other soldier comes out to watch and cheer the mighty PLA to a glorious Chinese victory. It's like playing the All Blacks at Eden Park, Wales at Cardiff Arms or England at Twickenham, you get the idea. This is more than a game for them, it's a battle and that's exactly what we have to understand in order to win. We need to take this week at training and the game seriously and as it's an international trip so I do need some help with lo! gistics.
PS: What he would appear not to mention is the score - it was about 50-7.
Sargant Speaks:
These inter club games are always entertaining and this one was know exception with both teams prepared for a tough encounter. In years gone by we have ended up with both teams having extensive injuries but on this occasion it was a hard but fair contest with the only concern coming from some very mysterious referring decisions. More from him next weekend I suspect as we play PLA. In the first half it started off with both sets of forwards testing each other out. This is always the most difficult time in Drags Vs Scorps clashes as both teams are fresh and looking to make an impact.
Quickly though it became apparent that Drags strength lay in our backline attack with Stewart Magraw cross for the first of four tries. After that it was an entertaining affair with tries coming in from all over the park. The Drags backline was on fire and the passing and inte! rchange between them made the coach Marc Sexton confirm this the best backline display from a Drags team this season.
In all we scored four more tries with Tim Robinson, Richard Gallagher (the only forward to score in the first half) Magraw a second and finally Baz Perkins crossing for a great first half. Five tries to zero. In the second half we expected much of the same but Scorps had different idea's and they came out of the half time break with renewed energy. Some solid forward work from our brothers in Scorps resulted in better field position and inevitably a strong forwards surge ended with a try for Scorps which was well converted by Dave Beckett.
For our part we had a number of outstanding backline drives and continued to score even if it did mean we had to run the entire length of the ground to do it. The "Gas Man" Raby opened up the second half and also lead the kicking game with six conversions in all a solid display. Next to cross was Guy Payne our Captain for the day (congratulations Guy) playing a loose flanking role coming in from out wide, then ! Callum Nieto and finally another two tries for Stewart Magraw.
Man of the match was Baz Perkins for his sublime running skills which broke the Scorps backline on many occasions setting up a number of the tries and also crossing for two others although only one will count as the referee adjudged that Baz dropped the ball over the line. Clearly David Guthrie feels the record should reflect a try saving tackle from him but that shouldn't surprise anyone. No matter what the circumstances Baz had a great game so congratulations. Another Man of the match on debut.
All in all a great win and we continue on as leaders of the division with nex! t weekend being our game of the season against our arch rivals PL A. Last season this fixture was are only loss so it holds a huge challenge for the entire team. This season we want to go undefeated so the game next weekend in Guangzhou is vital. Last year we lost 12-17 in a hard fought contest and I know PLA are fired up to repeat the result this time around. Fact is they have home ground advantage and to say the crowd is hostile is an understatement.
We play in the army grounds and every other soldier comes out to watch and cheer the mighty PLA to a glorious Chinese victory. It's like playing the All Blacks at Eden Park, Wales at Cardiff Arms or England at Twickenham, you get the idea. This is more than a game for them, it's a battle and that's exactly what we have to understand in order to win. We need to take this week at training and the game seriously and as it's an international trip so I do need some help with lo! gistics.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Back to Business - A Look Ahead at Saturday
Morning all
Trust you enjoyed the Bledislioe Cup weekend. Not a classic by any means but it was great to be there as rugby geopolitics shifted. I understand that Zinzan Brooke confirmed Kiwi rugby players' reputation for fine public speaking at the Brunch beforehand. It's hard to imagine that he could have been any worse than former Wallaby prop Dan Crowley, who embarked on the Mother of all Rambles at the Sevens Long Lunch - but apparently he was. Crowley is said to work as a motivational speaker these days (specialising in motivating people to fall asleep perhaps?) so there is clearly still hope for the audacious All Black drop-goaler of 1995. Now that I have insulted Australia and New Zealand equally, I feel we can move on. And please understand I wouldn't dream of saying any of this to either of their faces...
In other news, I can reveal that Club Chairman Donough Foley and Captain Tony George have sent their congratulations to US President-elect Barack Obama during a private phone call minutes after Obama's victory had been confirmed. "I told Barack he had the full support of the HKFC rugby section," said Foley. "And I invited him to come for a pint in the Chairman's next time he's over. He's got great potential but he's so young. I told him I would get Woots and Don Rider together and that we could give him a bit of a tutorial on leadership."
It also emerged last night that Ben Stobart's long absence from sight at HKFC was due to him having accepting a last-minute request from the Obama team to persuade undecided voters to cast a ballot in their candidate's favour by talking until they agreed. "It wasn't the way we would like to have done it, but the end justified these extreme means," said an Obama aide.
On to this weekend's fixtures. Club take on Causeway Bay in what should be one of the more straightforward contests in Dvision One. With so many quality players at his disposal, selection will no doubt present a few dilemmas. While Club will look to get into form against CWB, the real highlight of this weekend should be the Dragons v Scorpions clash at 3pm. For those new to the club, derbies like this are always fiery encounters. Some say they waste our energy by turning it inwards. I would say that matches like these are the reason why we play rugby and that the competition we foster internally makes us tougher competitors externally.
However you see this perennial question, though, any notion that the partisanship and individual team spirit of the different teams could be abolished along with their names will surely be shot down once again on Saturday. Drags and Scorps have experienced contrasting starts to their seasons, but the fierce pride felt by each team in a game like this has always been a great equalizer, making club derbies closer games than league table positions would suggest. There is always a personal element to these clashes as well: players in both teams want to prove a point against the man who is selected above or below them. It's a little Darwinian, I grant you, but it makes for cracking games of rugby.
My bet is that Saturday will be a tense encounter, with plenty of physical confrontation. I would expect Scorps to come out firing and try to rattle Drags in the first 20 with some very direct rugby. But I believe Drags' quality and greater structure will enable them to pull away in the second half and I would expect to see the game open up considerably in the last quarter. Sadly I will not be playing any part. A nasty clash of heads on Monday night (well, my face, his head) has left me with 11 neat little stitches above the right eye. For those in need of rugby-related needlework in the future, I can thoroughly recommend the Sanitorium.
In Division 3, Select take on Typhoons on the Valley pitches at 3pm while Sequins meet with Comvita City (whoever they may be) at 'THT' (wherever that may be) in Division 4. Bulls take on CWB in Division 5 (HKFC at 1.30pm) and GaIce will meet DEA (HKFC at 4.30pm.) All this weekend's fixtures in the divisions relevant to us are listed below, with the club games in bold.
Finally, don't forget the Walton Brunch on Sunday!
G4S League Fixtures by Division 2008/09
Week 4 - Saturday 8th November 08
Division 1
DeA Tigers v Synovate HKCC, KP, 6.00pm
CBRE Club v Manulife CWB Rams, HKFC, 6.00pm
InProjects Kowloon v Tradition Valley, SKP, 6.00pm
Division 2
Nomads v Synovate HKCC II, KP, 4.30pm
CBRE Club II DRAGONS v CBRE Club III SCORPIONS, HKFC, 3.00pm
Laxton PLA v Tradition Valley Knights, Guangzhou, 2.30pm
Division 3
DeA II v Synovate HKCC III, KP, 3.00pm
Rouse & Co Typhoons v CBRE Club IV SELECT, HV, 3.00pm
SJM Macau v Tradition Valley Mustangs, SKP, 4.30pm
Division 4
Comvita City v CBRE Club SEQUINS, THT, 3.00pm
Gai Wu J v Manulife CWB Pirates, HV, 4.30pm
InProjects Kln Barbars v Tradition Valley Broncos, SKP,3.00pm
Police v University. PBS, 3.45pm
Division 5
DeA III v Synovate HKCC IV, KP, 1.30pm
CBRE Club VI BULLS v Manulife CWB Marines, HKFC, 1.30pm
InProjects Kln Beavers v Tradition Valley Griffins, SKP, 1.45pm
Police Panthers v University II, PBS, 2.30pm
Women’s 15s Division
Club/Gai Wu v DeA, HKFC, 4.30pm
CWB v Abaloon, THT,4.30pm
Trust you enjoyed the Bledislioe Cup weekend. Not a classic by any means but it was great to be there as rugby geopolitics shifted. I understand that Zinzan Brooke confirmed Kiwi rugby players' reputation for fine public speaking at the Brunch beforehand. It's hard to imagine that he could have been any worse than former Wallaby prop Dan Crowley, who embarked on the Mother of all Rambles at the Sevens Long Lunch - but apparently he was. Crowley is said to work as a motivational speaker these days (specialising in motivating people to fall asleep perhaps?) so there is clearly still hope for the audacious All Black drop-goaler of 1995. Now that I have insulted Australia and New Zealand equally, I feel we can move on. And please understand I wouldn't dream of saying any of this to either of their faces...
In other news, I can reveal that Club Chairman Donough Foley and Captain Tony George have sent their congratulations to US President-elect Barack Obama during a private phone call minutes after Obama's victory had been confirmed. "I told Barack he had the full support of the HKFC rugby section," said Foley. "And I invited him to come for a pint in the Chairman's next time he's over. He's got great potential but he's so young. I told him I would get Woots and Don Rider together and that we could give him a bit of a tutorial on leadership."
It also emerged last night that Ben Stobart's long absence from sight at HKFC was due to him having accepting a last-minute request from the Obama team to persuade undecided voters to cast a ballot in their candidate's favour by talking until they agreed. "It wasn't the way we would like to have done it, but the end justified these extreme means," said an Obama aide.
On to this weekend's fixtures. Club take on Causeway Bay in what should be one of the more straightforward contests in Dvision One. With so many quality players at his disposal, selection will no doubt present a few dilemmas. While Club will look to get into form against CWB, the real highlight of this weekend should be the Dragons v Scorpions clash at 3pm. For those new to the club, derbies like this are always fiery encounters. Some say they waste our energy by turning it inwards. I would say that matches like these are the reason why we play rugby and that the competition we foster internally makes us tougher competitors externally.
However you see this perennial question, though, any notion that the partisanship and individual team spirit of the different teams could be abolished along with their names will surely be shot down once again on Saturday. Drags and Scorps have experienced contrasting starts to their seasons, but the fierce pride felt by each team in a game like this has always been a great equalizer, making club derbies closer games than league table positions would suggest. There is always a personal element to these clashes as well: players in both teams want to prove a point against the man who is selected above or below them. It's a little Darwinian, I grant you, but it makes for cracking games of rugby.
My bet is that Saturday will be a tense encounter, with plenty of physical confrontation. I would expect Scorps to come out firing and try to rattle Drags in the first 20 with some very direct rugby. But I believe Drags' quality and greater structure will enable them to pull away in the second half and I would expect to see the game open up considerably in the last quarter. Sadly I will not be playing any part. A nasty clash of heads on Monday night (well, my face, his head) has left me with 11 neat little stitches above the right eye. For those in need of rugby-related needlework in the future, I can thoroughly recommend the Sanitorium.
In Division 3, Select take on Typhoons on the Valley pitches at 3pm while Sequins meet with Comvita City (whoever they may be) at 'THT' (wherever that may be) in Division 4. Bulls take on CWB in Division 5 (HKFC at 1.30pm) and GaIce will meet DEA (HKFC at 4.30pm.) All this weekend's fixtures in the divisions relevant to us are listed below, with the club games in bold.
Finally, don't forget the Walton Brunch on Sunday!
G4S League Fixtures by Division 2008/09
Week 4 - Saturday 8th November 08
Division 1
DeA Tigers v Synovate HKCC, KP, 6.00pm
CBRE Club v Manulife CWB Rams, HKFC, 6.00pm
InProjects Kowloon v Tradition Valley, SKP, 6.00pm
Division 2
Nomads v Synovate HKCC II, KP, 4.30pm
CBRE Club II DRAGONS v CBRE Club III SCORPIONS, HKFC, 3.00pm
Laxton PLA v Tradition Valley Knights, Guangzhou, 2.30pm
Division 3
DeA II v Synovate HKCC III, KP, 3.00pm
Rouse & Co Typhoons v CBRE Club IV SELECT, HV, 3.00pm
SJM Macau v Tradition Valley Mustangs, SKP, 4.30pm
Division 4
Comvita City v CBRE Club SEQUINS, THT, 3.00pm
Gai Wu J v Manulife CWB Pirates, HV, 4.30pm
InProjects Kln Barbars v Tradition Valley Broncos, SKP,3.00pm
Police v University. PBS, 3.45pm
Division 5
DeA III v Synovate HKCC IV, KP, 1.30pm
CBRE Club VI BULLS v Manulife CWB Marines, HKFC, 1.30pm
InProjects Kln Beavers v Tradition Valley Griffins, SKP, 1.45pm
Police Panthers v University II, PBS, 2.30pm
Women’s 15s Division
Club/Gai Wu v DeA, HKFC, 4.30pm
CWB v Abaloon, THT,4.30pm
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Scorps test PLA, show potential
The below is something of a hybrid between a CIA report, an executive summary and a stream-of-consciousness piece of Hunter S. Thompson-style reportage. Who else could have written it but Bouch?
Date: Saturday 18th October 2008
Location: Kings Park (away again!)
Opposition: The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China
Score: CBRE HKFC III Scorpions 22, Laxton PLA 44
Scorers: Tries: Charles French 2, Alex Smith, David Guthrie; Conversions: David Beckett 2
It behoves this writer to crave the indulgence of the "blog-itors", by being a smidgeon late. Dry yet profuse words can be delivered with alacrity, erudition and wit take a little longer. Before I wrote this report I took the liberty of investigating our opposition a little more than watching them run past me very fast. I discovered this intriguing factoid:"The PLA is the world's largest military force, with approximately 3 million members, and has the world's largest (active) standing army, with approximately 2.25 million members."Which I imagine can go some way to explaining how they managed to get 14 people who were simultaneously very quick and had little or no body fat - the 15th member was the first but strangely not the latter.
The lack of fat and the small issue of a language barrier did make for somewhat less comedy than normal.The coaching staff's near complete failure to register any laughs was compounded by the minor issue that our good selves were virtually incapable of tackling the aforesaid blubberless ones. Despite this coach Mike Watson, he of the no body fat whatsoever but a fine line in Northern wit, had a couple of intriguing comments for the team to consider at training.
• Thanks - hard work. Tough match against a good side - fast and fit.
• Disappointment because we had the ability to beat PLA if we could learn to adapt our performance to counter their strengths. The first 15 minutes we totalled them scoring one, nearly a second attacking their 22 and then an interception.
• Two more tries were interceptions when we were in attacking position. This made 21 points lads deduct them and you see the true nature of the game.
• Comments:- Scrummaging very good. Front Row really worked in tight and in loose. Just a couple of wheels later on but impressed.
- Loose - when we stuck to the pick drive and roll agreement of before the kick off we just took PLA down the park often 20 to 40 Meters. To be fair I think if we did this against many sides in our league we would win the game.
- Backs overall no criticism. I liked the open play and the handling was in the main strong. Taking runners from the back row also gained ground for us.
- Penalties - well done to Smudger for the quick taps - 2 tries came from this.
- Dave Beckett great running. Nick James if I underestimated your running ability from deep mate first time I have seen it.All of the above would have been of value (including the bits I have carefully edited out) at training, had anybody been there on Monday!!! Which was nice.
In summary, which by its very nature and because it is written by me, may very well end up being longer than the main content, the Scorps laid down a big marker for the season. We played at times some good strong rugby with discipline and just enough flair to be very dangerous. It also is great to see that there are many more players who have the wherewithal and desire to play in the higher leagues. David Beckett and Nick James were mentioned above as was Smudger Smith stepping up from Select with aplomb. However the Man of the Match went to Minju "Midget" Kim for an outstanding full 80 minutes at tighthead prop against a much bigger and more experienced (make that ex-Chinese international) prop, and we at times powered them off their own ball. The Tuesday of the match remains in the capable hands of Mr Richard Tinsley for failing to return the sartorial wig and hat combo which management had carefully crafted the previous week.Despite this we did manage to turnstile a few of their players and lessons have been learned.
Bring it on as they say - whoever the hell "they" are.
Bouch
Date: Saturday 18th October 2008
Location: Kings Park (away again!)
Opposition: The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China
Score: CBRE HKFC III Scorpions 22, Laxton PLA 44
Scorers: Tries: Charles French 2, Alex Smith, David Guthrie; Conversions: David Beckett 2
It behoves this writer to crave the indulgence of the "blog-itors", by being a smidgeon late. Dry yet profuse words can be delivered with alacrity, erudition and wit take a little longer. Before I wrote this report I took the liberty of investigating our opposition a little more than watching them run past me very fast. I discovered this intriguing factoid:"The PLA is the world's largest military force, with approximately 3 million members, and has the world's largest (active) standing army, with approximately 2.25 million members."Which I imagine can go some way to explaining how they managed to get 14 people who were simultaneously very quick and had little or no body fat - the 15th member was the first but strangely not the latter.
The lack of fat and the small issue of a language barrier did make for somewhat less comedy than normal.The coaching staff's near complete failure to register any laughs was compounded by the minor issue that our good selves were virtually incapable of tackling the aforesaid blubberless ones. Despite this coach Mike Watson, he of the no body fat whatsoever but a fine line in Northern wit, had a couple of intriguing comments for the team to consider at training.
• Thanks - hard work. Tough match against a good side - fast and fit.
• Disappointment because we had the ability to beat PLA if we could learn to adapt our performance to counter their strengths. The first 15 minutes we totalled them scoring one, nearly a second attacking their 22 and then an interception.
• Two more tries were interceptions when we were in attacking position. This made 21 points lads deduct them and you see the true nature of the game.
• Comments:- Scrummaging very good. Front Row really worked in tight and in loose. Just a couple of wheels later on but impressed.
- Loose - when we stuck to the pick drive and roll agreement of before the kick off we just took PLA down the park often 20 to 40 Meters. To be fair I think if we did this against many sides in our league we would win the game.
- Backs overall no criticism. I liked the open play and the handling was in the main strong. Taking runners from the back row also gained ground for us.
- Penalties - well done to Smudger for the quick taps - 2 tries came from this.
- Dave Beckett great running. Nick James if I underestimated your running ability from deep mate first time I have seen it.All of the above would have been of value (including the bits I have carefully edited out) at training, had anybody been there on Monday!!! Which was nice.
In summary, which by its very nature and because it is written by me, may very well end up being longer than the main content, the Scorps laid down a big marker for the season. We played at times some good strong rugby with discipline and just enough flair to be very dangerous. It also is great to see that there are many more players who have the wherewithal and desire to play in the higher leagues. David Beckett and Nick James were mentioned above as was Smudger Smith stepping up from Select with aplomb. However the Man of the Match went to Minju "Midget" Kim for an outstanding full 80 minutes at tighthead prop against a much bigger and more experienced (make that ex-Chinese international) prop, and we at times powered them off their own ball. The Tuesday of the match remains in the capable hands of Mr Richard Tinsley for failing to return the sartorial wig and hat combo which management had carefully crafted the previous week.Despite this we did manage to turnstile a few of their players and lessons have been learned.
Bring it on as they say - whoever the hell "they" are.
Bouch
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Was this the most ridiculous rugby kit of all time?
Manila 2007. It's the Year of the Pig, so we got dressed up like butchers. The only thing we lacked were straw hats. Strangely enough, my girlfriend finds this shirt, with its blood-dripping numerals on the back, more offensive than the previous year's offering in the Year of the Dog, which featured a cute design of canines sniffing each others' rears.Shortly after this photograph was taken, we took the field against some team of expats from Thailand I think. Grewers made a particularly fine little break before he was collared by their scrum-half, who then decided to start pumelling the poor lad's head with his fist. Your correspondent was mysteriously the closest player to hand, so I charged in and attempted to intervene. Moments later, as Bouch remarked, it was like Swansea on a Friday night. I was yellow carded for being the "third man in" and we developed a taste for pugilism that found full expression later that night in the famous Ringside Bar. Only in Manila will you find a bar where there is a boxing ring and you are encouraged to fight your mates (albeit in comically oversized gloves) when you can hardly stand up.
This tour was also notable for the appearance of a friend of Richard Lewis's (back row, far right), who claimed to have played for Wales but was pretty rubbish. No surprises there then...
Enough reminiscing I feel.
Harps
Monday, October 13, 2008
Club, Drags dispatch the Old Enemy
Afternoon all
A quick note from your erstwhile Blogger.
I understand Club, Drags and Scorps were off to winning starts in the first round of the knockout cup (for Club) and first league games at the weekend, with the first two teams putting one over Valley, which is always nice. It certainly seems that there is a bumper crop of talent in the top grades this year and it was good to see new players making their mark at this early stage. I would love to tell you more about the weekend's games but the truth is I was enjoying the delights of Britain's public transport network and wasn't there.
I have, however, gathered analysis from two of Hong Kong rugby's greatest pundits - Alvin Sallay of the South China Morning Post and Murray Sargant Esq, Dragons' team manager. I will slot these into the next post for your eductation, entertainment and edification.
Quintus Maximus (aka Q) has kindly pointed out to me that the Silverware won by Dragons and Ice at the Valley 15s was, of course, not our first of the season. Club and, I believe, Ice were triumphant in the Union 7s. My apologies for any unintentional overshadowing of their achievement. Come to think of it, I saw most of the Club team in Wan Chai the night after, when I had the singular pleasure of seeing Junior dancing. Not sure how I could have forgotten that.
Before I tootle off to training, I would like to bring your attention to a little game of cricket we are planning for the afternoon of Friday 31 October (the day before Bledisloe Saturday). This date began life as a proper fixture against Lamma CC but our pitch fell through so we are bringing this in-house. It is unlikely to be great cricket but it will surely be entertaining...
A quick note from your erstwhile Blogger.
I understand Club, Drags and Scorps were off to winning starts in the first round of the knockout cup (for Club) and first league games at the weekend, with the first two teams putting one over Valley, which is always nice. It certainly seems that there is a bumper crop of talent in the top grades this year and it was good to see new players making their mark at this early stage. I would love to tell you more about the weekend's games but the truth is I was enjoying the delights of Britain's public transport network and wasn't there.
I have, however, gathered analysis from two of Hong Kong rugby's greatest pundits - Alvin Sallay of the South China Morning Post and Murray Sargant Esq, Dragons' team manager. I will slot these into the next post for your eductation, entertainment and edification.
Quintus Maximus (aka Q) has kindly pointed out to me that the Silverware won by Dragons and Ice at the Valley 15s was, of course, not our first of the season. Club and, I believe, Ice were triumphant in the Union 7s. My apologies for any unintentional overshadowing of their achievement. Come to think of it, I saw most of the Club team in Wan Chai the night after, when I had the singular pleasure of seeing Junior dancing. Not sure how I could have forgotten that.
Before I tootle off to training, I would like to bring your attention to a little game of cricket we are planning for the afternoon of Friday 31 October (the day before Bledisloe Saturday). This date began life as a proper fixture against Lamma CC but our pitch fell through so we are bringing this in-house. It is unlikely to be great cricket but it will surely be entertaining...
ELV Productions brings you
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
The Hong Kong Ashes Series
Friday October 31, 13:00-16:00, The Hockey Pitch, HKFC
A Three Match Series (or more if time permits) of "World Class" Pairs Cricket following Beach Cricket Rules
Featuring:
Ramsay 'Boony' Carter Ben 'Beefy' Stobart Junior 'The King of Spin' Naylor
And many other notable sportsmen, although we regret that Nick 'Wrong Un' James is now unvailable
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND
The Hong Kong Ashes Series
Friday October 31, 13:00-16:00, The Hockey Pitch, HKFC
A Three Match Series (or more if time permits) of "World Class" Pairs Cricket following Beach Cricket Rules
Featuring:
Ramsay 'Boony' Carter Ben 'Beefy' Stobart Junior 'The King of Spin' Naylor
And many other notable sportsmen, although we regret that Nick 'Wrong Un' James is now unvailable
About six players a side are already confirmed (these players were in for the game against Lamma) but there are still opportunities to join the teams and take part in our unique interpretation of cricket's oldest rivalry. If you're keen, email me on adamharper01@gmail.com
Ta ta for now
Harps
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Blog is Back
Gentlemen
The Blog is back for its second season of crisp analysis and aimless banter. There are rumours that we will shortly be taking this content to a newly revamped Rugby Section website masterminded by Brother Paul McGee, who has recently taken a vow of silence, but for the time being, we are live again at http://www.hkfcrugbysection.blogspot.com/.
I am quite happy to take the Blog's content into an official HKFC portal. After all, this Blog has been officially sanctioned from its beginning. And I love the idea that PT is pushing of an integrated web platform for the section: one that will allow information, team lists, results and so on to be easily distributed to the whole section and that will enable the build-up of an invaluable archive of data. But whether we are here or on a new uber-website, the Blog will never become a tame noticeboard for the section's leadership, even though it exists to support, celebrate and inform the HKFC rugby section. I may be a bit of a weapon, but I will never be a tool...
Because it would be a sad day if 'we' at the Blog felt uncomfortable to be critics when criticism is a fair response, either in assessing performances on the pitch, or decisions made in the Club's boardroom, more normally known as the Sportsman's.
Indeed, I would like to start this season's Blog on the offensive. It is my understanding that the noble and ancient team names within the section will be abandoned in favour of depressingly bland team numbers. That is to say: firsts, seconds, thirds and so on. For those new to the club, and for clarity, the six club men's teams, in order, are: Club, Dragons, Scorpions, Select, Sequins and Bulls. The ladies' team is called Ice (and I confess I am not sure what happens to that under the new numbers system).
The reasoning behind abolishing the team names (as if it were possible) is that having team names and strong identities for each team discourages movement of players between the teams and restricts players' and coaches' thinking to their own little world. In short, so the argument goes, the team names are divisive, create silo mentalities and hold back the section as a whole.
It's easy to follow the logic of the argument, but there are two powerful reasons why it is a misguided initiative and destined to immediate failure.
Firstly, consider the motivations of a rugby player taking the field. He or she plays for his or her own pride in what they do; they may play for a coach sometimes; but I believe that, for the largest part, they will play for their team. They will play for the people around them and for the identity of the team and, without wishing to become too prosaic, its spirit. The spirit is created by the people that get together with our player every week to train and play rugby. But the spirit of the past players, in the way that it influences the players still there who remember them and what has gone before, means that every rugby team is, if you like, a distinct fabric into which a large number of personalities, past and present, are woven.
It sounds rather obvious, but the idea of the team is the essential building block of rugby life -its DNA. And a team is not effective as some kind of loose, technical grouping that serves an abstract greater good. When people go out to play, they cannot be expect to think of and play for several hundred other people in the rugby section. They cannot be expected to think of themselves as part of one team of 105 players lining up in seven matches on Saturday. They are part of a squad, a team, that can only give its all in its own game. Ask rugby players to think beyond that, or to play for more than that, and you are missing the point of the game.
The team name is like a flag or battle standard. It's what the captain shouts to rally the team on the pitch. The aura of the name creates a strangely potent bond between the players that it joins together. If you've ever played the game, you will know exactly what I'm talking about. The Club is full of teams that have attracted incredible loyalty down the years and developed quite distinct cultures of their own. These distinctions aren't big but they are important. It's to do with they way you play (or the way you think you play) and the personalities in your team and the kind of chatter they create.
In HKFC, teams have always defined themselves against the other teams, which isn't surprising. Every team - maybe every group of individuals - naturally likes to differentiate itself and stand out. Remember Bulls' red socks; Select's "Mighty" sobriquet and their bauhinia jackets; Sequins' Corner and their preposterous waistcoats; Dragons' sense of us-against-the-world-when they were the Dvision One whipping boys and no-one wanted to play for them. When I thought I would have to leave Hong Kong a couple of years ago, the-then Scorpions captain wrote me a very kind letter with a Scorps' letterhead and implored me to remember that I would always be a Scorp.
I clearly remember one player declaring to anyone who would care to listen at a Captain's Dinner that he "embodied the spirit of Bulls." I have no idea what he meant (although I bet I would if I were a Bull) but it's hard to imagine anyone saying "I embody the spirit of co-operation across the rugby section" and feeling proud of it. It's a worthy ideal, but it's empty when we consider why we play the game. We all love the rugby section as a whole and we all want the whole Club to do well. It's just that we play for a team, not a section, and that team should have a name, an identity and a spirit.
The second reason follows on from that and is less fundamental, less philosophical and more practical. It won't work. At a very simple level, people will continue to use these team names for ever and aye. I went to university in a city where the biggest, nastiest and best nightclub was still called Sindie's despite the fact that it had been called about three other things in the twenty-odd years since it was last Sindie's. When people like names, they stick.
And it's not going to alter players' willingness or ability to move up the teams. There are plenty of players in the Club and Dragons teams today who started in Scorps, Select and Bulls. Good and committed players will always be ambitious to play for the best team that they can.
Nor, I fear, is such a cosmetic change going to alter coaches' attitudes much. Coaches are naturally dedicated to their own team, and so they should be. I don't think the following conversation will ever happen:
Coach A: Right, I am delighted that four of my best players have been asked to play for the team above me. It's always a great pleasure to support the section as a whole. May I ask you if you will kindly provide me with your four best players to replace them?
Coach B: Why, certainly good sir. It would be my honour.
Nope, there will always be wrangling and fighting and coaches trying to hang on to their best players. It was ever thus. But it will essentially work as it always has - the best players will move up as demand requires. It hasn't always happened as quickly as it should have, but it happens.
Alright, for anyone still listening, that is the end of my rant. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who feels differently and can assure you I will start writing about rugby again soon.
In the meantime, please let us (and the section) know how you feel about these changes by voting in the poll below...
Harps
The Blog is back for its second season of crisp analysis and aimless banter. There are rumours that we will shortly be taking this content to a newly revamped Rugby Section website masterminded by Brother Paul McGee, who has recently taken a vow of silence, but for the time being, we are live again at http://www.hkfcrugbysection.blogspot.com/.
I am quite happy to take the Blog's content into an official HKFC portal. After all, this Blog has been officially sanctioned from its beginning. And I love the idea that PT is pushing of an integrated web platform for the section: one that will allow information, team lists, results and so on to be easily distributed to the whole section and that will enable the build-up of an invaluable archive of data. But whether we are here or on a new uber-website, the Blog will never become a tame noticeboard for the section's leadership, even though it exists to support, celebrate and inform the HKFC rugby section. I may be a bit of a weapon, but I will never be a tool...
Because it would be a sad day if 'we' at the Blog felt uncomfortable to be critics when criticism is a fair response, either in assessing performances on the pitch, or decisions made in the Club's boardroom, more normally known as the Sportsman's.
Indeed, I would like to start this season's Blog on the offensive. It is my understanding that the noble and ancient team names within the section will be abandoned in favour of depressingly bland team numbers. That is to say: firsts, seconds, thirds and so on. For those new to the club, and for clarity, the six club men's teams, in order, are: Club, Dragons, Scorpions, Select, Sequins and Bulls. The ladies' team is called Ice (and I confess I am not sure what happens to that under the new numbers system).
The reasoning behind abolishing the team names (as if it were possible) is that having team names and strong identities for each team discourages movement of players between the teams and restricts players' and coaches' thinking to their own little world. In short, so the argument goes, the team names are divisive, create silo mentalities and hold back the section as a whole.
It's easy to follow the logic of the argument, but there are two powerful reasons why it is a misguided initiative and destined to immediate failure.
Firstly, consider the motivations of a rugby player taking the field. He or she plays for his or her own pride in what they do; they may play for a coach sometimes; but I believe that, for the largest part, they will play for their team. They will play for the people around them and for the identity of the team and, without wishing to become too prosaic, its spirit. The spirit is created by the people that get together with our player every week to train and play rugby. But the spirit of the past players, in the way that it influences the players still there who remember them and what has gone before, means that every rugby team is, if you like, a distinct fabric into which a large number of personalities, past and present, are woven.
It sounds rather obvious, but the idea of the team is the essential building block of rugby life -its DNA. And a team is not effective as some kind of loose, technical grouping that serves an abstract greater good. When people go out to play, they cannot be expect to think of and play for several hundred other people in the rugby section. They cannot be expected to think of themselves as part of one team of 105 players lining up in seven matches on Saturday. They are part of a squad, a team, that can only give its all in its own game. Ask rugby players to think beyond that, or to play for more than that, and you are missing the point of the game.
The team name is like a flag or battle standard. It's what the captain shouts to rally the team on the pitch. The aura of the name creates a strangely potent bond between the players that it joins together. If you've ever played the game, you will know exactly what I'm talking about. The Club is full of teams that have attracted incredible loyalty down the years and developed quite distinct cultures of their own. These distinctions aren't big but they are important. It's to do with they way you play (or the way you think you play) and the personalities in your team and the kind of chatter they create.
In HKFC, teams have always defined themselves against the other teams, which isn't surprising. Every team - maybe every group of individuals - naturally likes to differentiate itself and stand out. Remember Bulls' red socks; Select's "Mighty" sobriquet and their bauhinia jackets; Sequins' Corner and their preposterous waistcoats; Dragons' sense of us-against-the-world-when they were the Dvision One whipping boys and no-one wanted to play for them. When I thought I would have to leave Hong Kong a couple of years ago, the-then Scorpions captain wrote me a very kind letter with a Scorps' letterhead and implored me to remember that I would always be a Scorp.
I clearly remember one player declaring to anyone who would care to listen at a Captain's Dinner that he "embodied the spirit of Bulls." I have no idea what he meant (although I bet I would if I were a Bull) but it's hard to imagine anyone saying "I embody the spirit of co-operation across the rugby section" and feeling proud of it. It's a worthy ideal, but it's empty when we consider why we play the game. We all love the rugby section as a whole and we all want the whole Club to do well. It's just that we play for a team, not a section, and that team should have a name, an identity and a spirit.
The second reason follows on from that and is less fundamental, less philosophical and more practical. It won't work. At a very simple level, people will continue to use these team names for ever and aye. I went to university in a city where the biggest, nastiest and best nightclub was still called Sindie's despite the fact that it had been called about three other things in the twenty-odd years since it was last Sindie's. When people like names, they stick.
And it's not going to alter players' willingness or ability to move up the teams. There are plenty of players in the Club and Dragons teams today who started in Scorps, Select and Bulls. Good and committed players will always be ambitious to play for the best team that they can.
Nor, I fear, is such a cosmetic change going to alter coaches' attitudes much. Coaches are naturally dedicated to their own team, and so they should be. I don't think the following conversation will ever happen:
Coach A: Right, I am delighted that four of my best players have been asked to play for the team above me. It's always a great pleasure to support the section as a whole. May I ask you if you will kindly provide me with your four best players to replace them?
Coach B: Why, certainly good sir. It would be my honour.
Nope, there will always be wrangling and fighting and coaches trying to hang on to their best players. It was ever thus. But it will essentially work as it always has - the best players will move up as demand requires. It hasn't always happened as quickly as it should have, but it happens.
Alright, for anyone still listening, that is the end of my rant. I would be very interested to hear from anyone who feels differently and can assure you I will start writing about rugby again soon.
In the meantime, please let us (and the section) know how you feel about these changes by voting in the poll below...
Harps
Friday, February 15, 2008
Knocking on Heaven's Door
Life has returned to normal. Chinese New Year's been and gone. Skiing/golfing/lying on a beach/boozing is done and dusted and we're back to rugby weekends. You know what that means. Q will wear a perpetual frown. Tim Griffin will get yellow-carded (well, he would if he was playing). The Sequins will be in their corner, sadly reflecting on how the game has changed and ordering another beer. PT McGee will shout mild comments of gentle encouragement from the stands.
And what a day it could (should) be. Club can make their Division One title safe by despatching DEA. Drags face a battle royale with Scorps, but will be crowned Division Two champions if they triumph. Should Select win heavily against Kowloon Pussies, they stay in with a shout in Division Three. Indeed, Club increasingly resembles Ancient Rome in its pomp - every continent (for that read division) fears the force of our arms. And then it's Andy Malbon's Stag, and Miss Kowloon...and Saturday night.
The stakes are high, though. Will it be veni, vidi, vici and Cluba Victa or will those damned Barbarians come and sack the Colisseum in Sports Road? Club (and I mean the 1s now) are tantalisingly close to victory, but DEA will sense the opportunity to really spoil the party. There will be no room for hubris and complacency will be fatal. The same applies to Drags. Form goes out of the window in Club Derbies. If Club and Drags want to win the Laurel Wreath and ascend into elysium as champions, then they will have to play like champions, by Jupiter. And that, I promise you, is as far as I will stretch the Roman analogy. We who are about to play salute you!
See you at the Club.
Harps
Teams below...
CBRE Club v DEA Tigers
HKFC, Saturday 16 February, 5.30pm
1. Pete Spizzirri
2. Tom Cameron
3. Nigel Hobler
4. Angus Washington
5. Steve Matthew
6. Tim Edgar
7. Jared Smith (AQ)
8. Nathan Johnson (N)
9. Peter McKee (N)
10. Pat Foreman (N)
11. Dan Parr
12. Nigel D'Acre
13. Richard Rouse
14. Andrew Chambers
15. Mike McKee (AQ)
Bench
Adam Harper
Chris Howard
Dean Finnegan
Phil Reid
James Kibble
Junior Naylor
Callum Nieto
Tim Robinson
Adam Raby (AQ)
Ed Johnson
Colin Begg (AQ)
CBRE Club Dragons v CBRE Club Scorpions
HKFC, Saturday 16 February, 4pm
1. Adam Harper
2. Duncan Robertson
3. Gary
4. Chris Howard
5. Ramsay Carter (C)
6. TBA/Andrew Corkery
7. Marcus
8. Dean Finnegan
9. Phil Reid
10. Junior Naylor / James Kibble
11. Callum Nieto
12. Robin Bredbury
13. Tibbett
14. Raby
15. Ed Johnson
Bench
Junior Naylor / James Kibble
Richard Gallagher
And what a day it could (should) be. Club can make their Division One title safe by despatching DEA. Drags face a battle royale with Scorps, but will be crowned Division Two champions if they triumph. Should Select win heavily against Kowloon Pussies, they stay in with a shout in Division Three. Indeed, Club increasingly resembles Ancient Rome in its pomp - every continent (for that read division) fears the force of our arms. And then it's Andy Malbon's Stag, and Miss Kowloon...and Saturday night.
The stakes are high, though. Will it be veni, vidi, vici and Cluba Victa or will those damned Barbarians come and sack the Colisseum in Sports Road? Club (and I mean the 1s now) are tantalisingly close to victory, but DEA will sense the opportunity to really spoil the party. There will be no room for hubris and complacency will be fatal. The same applies to Drags. Form goes out of the window in Club Derbies. If Club and Drags want to win the Laurel Wreath and ascend into elysium as champions, then they will have to play like champions, by Jupiter. And that, I promise you, is as far as I will stretch the Roman analogy. We who are about to play salute you!
See you at the Club.
Harps
Teams below...
CBRE Club v DEA Tigers
HKFC, Saturday 16 February, 5.30pm
1. Pete Spizzirri
2. Tom Cameron
3. Nigel Hobler
4. Angus Washington
5. Steve Matthew
6. Tim Edgar
7. Jared Smith (AQ)
8. Nathan Johnson (N)
9. Peter McKee (N)
10. Pat Foreman (N)
11. Dan Parr
12. Nigel D'Acre
13. Richard Rouse
14. Andrew Chambers
15. Mike McKee (AQ)
Bench
Adam Harper
Chris Howard
Dean Finnegan
Phil Reid
James Kibble
Junior Naylor
Callum Nieto
Tim Robinson
Adam Raby (AQ)
Ed Johnson
Colin Begg (AQ)
CBRE Club Dragons v CBRE Club Scorpions
HKFC, Saturday 16 February, 4pm
1. Adam Harper
2. Duncan Robertson
3. Gary
4. Chris Howard
5. Ramsay Carter (C)
6. TBA/Andrew Corkery
7. Marcus
8. Dean Finnegan
9. Phil Reid
10. Junior Naylor / James Kibble
11. Callum Nieto
12. Robin Bredbury
13. Tibbett
14. Raby
15. Ed Johnson
Bench
Junior Naylor / James Kibble
Richard Gallagher
Friday, January 18, 2008
It Matters Now
First of all, apologies for a very disappointing blogging output this week. I have tried to persuade my bosses that I add value by posting these musings on the noble game of rugby, but they remain far from convinced. Indeed, they remain far from convinced that I add value at all...
But here I am and here we are with the match of the season ahead of us tomorrow. This fixture is the pinnacle of rugby in Hong Kong: it's our answer to Lewis v Tyson at boxing, England v Australia at cricket and the Ryder Cup - all rolled into one. It's Club v Valley, live and exclusive at HKFC, 6pm. The very prospect is enough to get the blood going...
Yes, we are very different Clubs. Yes, you can argue that we are the "establishment," with our superb facilities and large player base, and that they are the "alternative establishment" with a similarly large number of players and a very strong social aspect. Indeed, people from both sides would make a number different claims for their own sides and criticisms of the other. For as long as I have been playing against Valley for HKFC, the rallying call has always been a reminder that this is Valley we're facing here boys so pull your finger out. This kind of local tension is natural but none of it really explains why this rivalry - and tomorrow's fixture - are so important.
All that counts here is that Club and Valley have the best two rugby union teams in Hong Kong, and that they are each other's true benchmarks. The hot air and cultural rubbish can go out of the window. Club and Valley know tomorrow's game is the biggest challenge available in the Territory as teams and for individual players. That's why it matters so much.
For Club, tomorrow will represent the biggest test of the season. They could still very well go on to win the league even if they lose, but it will have given Valley a sniff after two successive defeats this season by Club. A win, on the other hand, will have an effect that would be greater than the sum of the points received. To use a boxing analogy, a win would make Club the undisputed champion by virture of an unprecedented three knock-out victories against their opponent this season. It will serve notice of Club's superiority to the rest of Division One and effectively close off the season. Lose, and Club will have hard work to do for the rest of the season, the more so if the loss is bad.
In Other News: All Black great Ian Jones stopped by to help Club with their training session last night. The big man gave the forwards some great insights into line-out play, including tactics for bringing down the line-out jumper - something I had never even thought about (once they're up, they can look after themselves...). However, Jones had met his match in his Club equivalent, Tim Griffin. "When you're going straight up at two," Griffin informed the most-capped New Zealand lock in history, "it's all about speed."
Dragons scraped past Aberdeen 17-12 in a scrappy old game last Saturday, Scorpions put up a much-improved performance against PLA. Drags were somewhat ragged after the Christmas and New Year break and played some pretty brainless rugby at times (myself included - I promise NEVER, EVER to try a miss-pass again). Drags will need to work hard if they are to continue their unbeaten run against a strong PLA outfit next weekend and are not helped by the absence of a fixture tomorrow, although several players are likely to have game-time for Club.
The Tens Dinner tomorrow night promises to be great smash (especially if we beat Valley) - hope to see you there!
Harps
CBRE Club v Crown Valley
HKFC, 19 January 2008, 6pm
1. Pete Spizzirri
2. Tom Cameron
3. Nigel Hobler
4. Angus Washington
5. Tim Griffin
6. Rupert Clarke
7. Tim Edgar
8. Robert Mills
9. Peter McKee
10. Pat Foreman
11. Callum Neito
12. Nigel D'Acre
13. Richard Rouse
14. Andrew Chambers
15. Mike McKee (AQ)
Replacements:
Adam Harper
Steve Matthew
Dean Finnegan
James Kibble
Tim Robinson
Adam Raby (AQ)
Colin Begg (AQ)
But here I am and here we are with the match of the season ahead of us tomorrow. This fixture is the pinnacle of rugby in Hong Kong: it's our answer to Lewis v Tyson at boxing, England v Australia at cricket and the Ryder Cup - all rolled into one. It's Club v Valley, live and exclusive at HKFC, 6pm. The very prospect is enough to get the blood going...
Yes, we are very different Clubs. Yes, you can argue that we are the "establishment," with our superb facilities and large player base, and that they are the "alternative establishment" with a similarly large number of players and a very strong social aspect. Indeed, people from both sides would make a number different claims for their own sides and criticisms of the other. For as long as I have been playing against Valley for HKFC, the rallying call has always been a reminder that this is Valley we're facing here boys so pull your finger out. This kind of local tension is natural but none of it really explains why this rivalry - and tomorrow's fixture - are so important.
All that counts here is that Club and Valley have the best two rugby union teams in Hong Kong, and that they are each other's true benchmarks. The hot air and cultural rubbish can go out of the window. Club and Valley know tomorrow's game is the biggest challenge available in the Territory as teams and for individual players. That's why it matters so much.
For Club, tomorrow will represent the biggest test of the season. They could still very well go on to win the league even if they lose, but it will have given Valley a sniff after two successive defeats this season by Club. A win, on the other hand, will have an effect that would be greater than the sum of the points received. To use a boxing analogy, a win would make Club the undisputed champion by virture of an unprecedented three knock-out victories against their opponent this season. It will serve notice of Club's superiority to the rest of Division One and effectively close off the season. Lose, and Club will have hard work to do for the rest of the season, the more so if the loss is bad.
In Other News: All Black great Ian Jones stopped by to help Club with their training session last night. The big man gave the forwards some great insights into line-out play, including tactics for bringing down the line-out jumper - something I had never even thought about (once they're up, they can look after themselves...). However, Jones had met his match in his Club equivalent, Tim Griffin. "When you're going straight up at two," Griffin informed the most-capped New Zealand lock in history, "it's all about speed."
Dragons scraped past Aberdeen 17-12 in a scrappy old game last Saturday, Scorpions put up a much-improved performance against PLA. Drags were somewhat ragged after the Christmas and New Year break and played some pretty brainless rugby at times (myself included - I promise NEVER, EVER to try a miss-pass again). Drags will need to work hard if they are to continue their unbeaten run against a strong PLA outfit next weekend and are not helped by the absence of a fixture tomorrow, although several players are likely to have game-time for Club.
The Tens Dinner tomorrow night promises to be great smash (especially if we beat Valley) - hope to see you there!
Harps
CBRE Club v Crown Valley
HKFC, 19 January 2008, 6pm
1. Pete Spizzirri
2. Tom Cameron
3. Nigel Hobler
4. Angus Washington
5. Tim Griffin
6. Rupert Clarke
7. Tim Edgar
8. Robert Mills
9. Peter McKee
10. Pat Foreman
11. Callum Neito
12. Nigel D'Acre
13. Richard Rouse
14. Andrew Chambers
15. Mike McKee (AQ)
Replacements:
Adam Harper
Steve Matthew
Dean Finnegan
James Kibble
Tim Robinson
Adam Raby (AQ)
Colin Begg (AQ)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Of Scorpions and Soldiers
Far right: an Iraqi scorpion; considerably less fierce than its HKFC counterparts
Near right: Select head out for a night on the town - sorry - it's our brave protectors, the PLA
Afternoon Gents. It's Thursday. That means it will be Friday tomorrow, which is good, although not as good as the fact that Saturday will follow shortly afterwards.
First of all, some thoughts on the Scorps v Drags clash last Satutrday which, as you will no doubt know, finished 25-7 to Drags.
Frankly (and I write as a Drags player), that scoreline rather flattered the Dragons. Scorps came out with the fire and intensity of old and took control of much of the game. It never looked like first place playing last place in the division. Rob Gabbe, as ever, tackled like his life depended on it and smashed everything in sight. Despite being under pressure in the scrum from the massive Naylor-Cowhead-Babis front row (potentially the heaviest in Club history?), Scorps secured good possession for their backs through sheer tenacity and allowed Dave Beckett time to slot some effective kicks to the corners. By the way, after the exit of the indomitable Yutaka Yuzawa, Scorps played with a novel three-hooker front row consisting of Messrs 'Absinthe' Lawson, Sheren and Ali Iqbal Sharif Nazir, who was something of a revelation at tighthead, according to his learned opponents. In the keenly-awaited battle of the scrum halves, dare I say that Duncan Grewcock shaded Phil Reid this time? Although Phil was entirely sound, Grewers was full of pace, energy and ambition and seemed determined to make a point (as he did later at his Stag...)
Scorps took a deserved lead midway through the first half after a direct run from their new lock who's quite good (but whose name remains unknown to me) exposed the uncharacteristically hesitant and fragile Drags defence. Unfortunately for Scorps, they quickly conceded a soft intercepted try to Simon Shoebridge which was duly converted by Adam Raby. For those who are interested, unemployed former student Raby can frequently be seen getting on it in Taco Loco by the escalator with a bunch of other neophytes. Why they choose to go there is a mystery to me, although some of his female friends aren't bad.
As then game went on, Scorps continued to impress with their industry and application to the task, but frustratingly conceded another soft try. First of all, the Scorps back three failed to gather an innocuous-looking bouncing kick just inside their half and were ambushed by Drags winger Ed Johnson, who flew through, gathered and streaked away to the try line with the Scorps defenders trailing in his wake. Tim (little) Robinson crossed for another try to settle the matter late in the game, but I didn't see that.
Drags can take comfort that they were able to meet a serious challenge from Scorps and win without playing very well, that being the mark of a good side, which they unquestionably are. They will need to do better to beat the PLA this weekend, though (of which more anon). For Scorps, the manner in which they played will have done much to restore their morale, which was in the doldrums after a run of disappointing results since their miraculous victory against Valley.
There is no game for Scorps this weekend, but unbeaten Drags taken on the PLA in what should be the sternest test of the season so far. PLA are a strong side who bested Drags in the Dvision One table last year and a trip to our colonial-looking little bastion will no doubt get them all a-flutter with patriotic zeal. They have big guys and will use them to carry the ball very directly, taking passes from both the scrum half and fly half. The key for Drags will be tackling as these guys will run and run all day. It will also be vital for Drags to play structured, discplined rugby and to not kick the ball mindlessly. PLA have some tremendous broken play runners in the back three that can rip Drags apart if they lose their shape. Based on previous form, however, PLA will not have the tactial nous to defeat a team playing well-structured, patient rugby, though.
See you at training this evening.
Harps
Friday, November 16, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Australia, New Zealand, Valley tumble in rugby's day of reckoning
My apologies for the radio silence so far this week. Work is so inconvenient.
Well, that was quite a weekend. But never mind those two, or frankly four, momentous world cup quarter finals. There was something of a shake-up of the earth's foundations in Hong Kong as well. Yes, Club and Scorps added to the Drags' achievement the previous weekend and put the Auld Enemy Valley to the sword in their own backyard.
Scorps set the tone with a rousing victory in a remarkable Division 2 clash starting at 4.30pm. Valley came out with all the grunt and aggression you might expect and had stretched ahead to a lead of 22-7 at half time. But the Scorps rolled their sleeves up and got stuck into the Valley forwards in particular with real intention. The red ones scored on a rather lucky break after a period of extended Scorps pressure but it was not long before they opened their account with a charge-down try - the deserved result of a lot of hard work. After that, the run chase was on and Scorps began to dictate the pattern of the game. Perhaps Scorps also set the tone for a memorable England performance later on - their dominance in the scrum became absolute, although the same could not necessarily be said for the line-out.
Among many fine performances in the forwards, newcomer Jared Smith was rightly singled out as man of the match after working tirelessly to drive the Scorps forward and adding to the score sheet in the second half. The openside was rewarded by being allowed to drag the esky back to the club after the game.
At the death, the Scorps mounted wave after wave of assaults on the Valley line. Dave Beckett's first is disallowed because the ball was touched down on a Scorps boot. B*gger. Five metre scrum to Valley. Momentous, controlled shove by the Scorps, inching the desperate Valley pack backwards over their own try line, step by step. Phil Reid falls on the ball. A try, surely? Alas, the referee has not seen it and calls another scrum, which signals the last play of the game. This time Valley disrupt the Scorps' shove, but possession is secured and the ball whipped out into the backs, where Colin Begg catches his opposite number on the back foot and scampers over. A conversion follows and Scorps emerge, amazingly , as 28-22 winners. A dazed and demoralised Valley team trudge off the field in disbelief. “Revenge of the 20-21 defeat to Valley at HKFC from the 2004/05 season has been a long time coming,” said Scorps Manager Giles Disney. As someone who remembers that game and played in this one, I couldn't agree more.
So, are HKFC teams no longer the soft touch, the purveyors of fluffy white towels and free drinks for opponents? Are we no longer rolling over to have our tummies tickled? Are we rediscovering the mythical mongrel within, the never-say-die spirit, the ability to win games that we apparently shouldn't win? We'll see, but I blo*dy hope so.
There was no shortage of bulldog spirit for Club, who showed enormous strength of character to overcome a very motivated Valley team 27-16 in the stygian gloom that exists under Valley's lights. The forwards were tighter at the breakdown than the previous week and their mature, disciplined performance gave Club its platform for victory. "A very solid win by CBRE Club based on a solid foundation set by the forwards finished by some enterprising play from a classy backline," opined James Cook, Club Manager.
Nigel D'Acre was at his very best for Club, running superb lines to touch down twice, while Peter McKee and Tom Cameron also crossed the line. Mike McKee and Colin Begg added with the boot.
This has been a fantastic start to the season by pretty much the whole section with one team - Bulls - unbeaten in all comptetions so far. There is tight competition for places in many areas across Club, Drags and Scorps, which promises a high level of motivation going forward. If you want to see evidence of this, I would suggest that next Saturday's Drags v Scorps encounter will be essential viewing.
Harps
Well, that was quite a weekend. But never mind those two, or frankly four, momentous world cup quarter finals. There was something of a shake-up of the earth's foundations in Hong Kong as well. Yes, Club and Scorps added to the Drags' achievement the previous weekend and put the Auld Enemy Valley to the sword in their own backyard.
Scorps set the tone with a rousing victory in a remarkable Division 2 clash starting at 4.30pm. Valley came out with all the grunt and aggression you might expect and had stretched ahead to a lead of 22-7 at half time. But the Scorps rolled their sleeves up and got stuck into the Valley forwards in particular with real intention. The red ones scored on a rather lucky break after a period of extended Scorps pressure but it was not long before they opened their account with a charge-down try - the deserved result of a lot of hard work. After that, the run chase was on and Scorps began to dictate the pattern of the game. Perhaps Scorps also set the tone for a memorable England performance later on - their dominance in the scrum became absolute, although the same could not necessarily be said for the line-out.
Among many fine performances in the forwards, newcomer Jared Smith was rightly singled out as man of the match after working tirelessly to drive the Scorps forward and adding to the score sheet in the second half. The openside was rewarded by being allowed to drag the esky back to the club after the game.
At the death, the Scorps mounted wave after wave of assaults on the Valley line. Dave Beckett's first is disallowed because the ball was touched down on a Scorps boot. B*gger. Five metre scrum to Valley. Momentous, controlled shove by the Scorps, inching the desperate Valley pack backwards over their own try line, step by step. Phil Reid falls on the ball. A try, surely? Alas, the referee has not seen it and calls another scrum, which signals the last play of the game. This time Valley disrupt the Scorps' shove, but possession is secured and the ball whipped out into the backs, where Colin Begg catches his opposite number on the back foot and scampers over. A conversion follows and Scorps emerge, amazingly , as 28-22 winners. A dazed and demoralised Valley team trudge off the field in disbelief. “Revenge of the 20-21 defeat to Valley at HKFC from the 2004/05 season has been a long time coming,” said Scorps Manager Giles Disney. As someone who remembers that game and played in this one, I couldn't agree more.
So, are HKFC teams no longer the soft touch, the purveyors of fluffy white towels and free drinks for opponents? Are we no longer rolling over to have our tummies tickled? Are we rediscovering the mythical mongrel within, the never-say-die spirit, the ability to win games that we apparently shouldn't win? We'll see, but I blo*dy hope so.
There was no shortage of bulldog spirit for Club, who showed enormous strength of character to overcome a very motivated Valley team 27-16 in the stygian gloom that exists under Valley's lights. The forwards were tighter at the breakdown than the previous week and their mature, disciplined performance gave Club its platform for victory. "A very solid win by CBRE Club based on a solid foundation set by the forwards finished by some enterprising play from a classy backline," opined James Cook, Club Manager.
Nigel D'Acre was at his very best for Club, running superb lines to touch down twice, while Peter McKee and Tom Cameron also crossed the line. Mike McKee and Colin Begg added with the boot.
This has been a fantastic start to the season by pretty much the whole section with one team - Bulls - unbeaten in all comptetions so far. There is tight competition for places in many areas across Club, Drags and Scorps, which promises a high level of motivation going forward. If you want to see evidence of this, I would suggest that next Saturday's Drags v Scorps encounter will be essential viewing.
Harps
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