Rusty Club show their mettle
Alvin Sallay
12 October 2008
South China Morning Post
The rust was plain to see, but CBRE Hong Kong Football Club had enough savvy to polish off disappointing opponents Tradition Valley in the First Division knockout cup yesterday, winning 21-3.
Tries from No 8 Rupert Clarke and winger Adam Raby plus the boot of centre Jamie Hood, who knocked over a conversion and three penalties, gave Football Club the perfect start as they bid to defend their League and Grand Championship titles, plus add this extra "knockout cup" to their booty.
"We will take this win. It will set the tone for the rest of the season, and it will be a long one," said Football Club coach Quinton Wrigley. "Considering that we lost all our games at the Valley 15s, it is nice to start the season proper with a win."
Valley will be happy that their first outing does not have any bearing on the League. Left with a three-week period after changing the League from three rounds to two this season, the union decided to play this new knockout cup so all six teams could fine-tune their games before the league starts on November 8.
Valley can certainly do with some tweaking to their game as yesterday's error-ridden performance proved, with butter-fingered handling costing them a few scoring opportunities.
"I hope this is a case of early season rust for us," said Valley coach Brian Higgins. "But thankfully these first three weeks will allow us the chance to identify our problem areas. We are not down in the dumps."
The game was niggly as both teams tried to make an early statement, forcing the referee to reach for his yellow card on three occasions - twice to Football Club and once for Valley.
Having traded penalties, Club's impressive forwards broke the impasse midway through the first half when from a lineout close in, they rumbled over, resulting in Clarke scoring the first try. Hood converted to make it 10-3.
Two more penalties from Hood sealed victory for Club who will now move into the semi-finals next week, along with the winners of the other two games and the best loser.
At So Kon Po, DeA Tigers defeated Manulife Causeway Bay Rams 31-5, while Synovate HKCC beat InProjects Kowloon 35-10.
From Murray Sargant:
Congratulations guys on a hard fought victory against a very strong Knights team. Without a doubt that was the hardest victory Marc and I have witnessed in our time with Drags and the whole team had to dig deep to keep Valley from scoring in the last 20 minutes. a real nail biter. On the positive side our lineout's worked well with some excellent jumping from Alex Charter, Graham Fleming and Ollie Jones and accurate throwing from Alisdair and Pete. Also our scrum managed at least three tight heads which could have been more had Pat the referee not objected to us pushing Valley around the park. Well done to the front row particularly Ian, Richard and Yutaka for some strong scumaging. In fact the referee at times should have been wearing a Valley shirt given his constant award of penalties and inability to see what was going on off the ball and with Valley not binding on to their reversing scrum. Also he ! managed to allow fulltime to run 6 minutes over giving Valley more than enough chances and yet we managed to keep them out. Our pre season fitness really was put to the test and our spirit in defense was impressive to witness. Our backline also had a good day although we were unlucky not to run in a few more tries particularly in the first half. Some strong running from Shane and Pat always kept Valley on the back foot particularly in the first 40 minutes. The only time Valley broke our line was through an intercept which was against the run of play. Other than this momentary lapse Valley never really troubled our defense and we kept tackling all afternoon which was impressive given how hot it was. Marcus and Marc have nominated Ian Ridgway our inaugural man of the match and in typical drags tradition he will be awarded the Steve Spiers cup next weekend. For those not aware Steve lost his life in Bali and once the cup is in! the hand of the best and fairest player each weekend the cup can not be emptied and who ever is handed the cup must see away the contents. Congratulations to Ian on his debut game for Drags and on a great game. Also a great fun night Saturday at the Captains Dinner although Sunday was a little slow in the Sargant house hold. Thanks Marc for suggesting Wanchai at 2am.
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
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Not harping on any more
Good afternoon all. It's a beautiful day outside, the world (at least according the definition of those in the financial services industry) would appear to be staring into the abyss once again and I have found a few moments to bring the old blog up to date. It's a pleasure to reach you via the tremendously clever communication system brought into being by the efforts of club stalwart Brother Paul T. McGee. Did you know that he personally entered everyone's email addresses into the system? Well he did. "If I didn't do it, it wasn't going to happen," says the reclusive billionaire. That's the spirit.
Like an old ocean-going liner, the rugby season is beginning to get underway. However, at the last minute, the HKRFU has taken the rather odd 11th hour decision to play the knockout cup before the league season, meaning there will be no league rugby until November 8. Lord knows why, but there it is. The knockout cup will start when the league had been due to kick off on October 11.
Competitive rugby of a kind began last weekend with the Valley 15s, a competitition that really demonstrates why it is a good idea to reduce team sizes if you cut down match time. Nonetheless, rugby is rugby, and the Club boys will be disappointed to have succumbed to three successive defeats. With a growing casualty list to compound his woes, Coach Quinton Wrigley's blood pressure will be rising well before the real shooting match begins. There was better fortune for Dragons and Ice who won their divisions and claimed the club's first silverware of the season. As I understand Murray Sargant's epistle on the subject, Dragons' final came down to a draw and it had to be decided by a sprint race which 'Usain' Payne won.
On an entirely different subject, I would like to recommend H.E. Andrew Boucher's blog. He does appear to be preoccupied with one issue in particular, but his peerless style and the contributions of some other notable Scorps make this a highly entertaining read. Take a look now on
http://www.rugbyisnotbroken.blogspot.com/
Finally, I have one or two further points to make on the issue of team names, or the absence thereof. Firstly and most importantly, let's be absolutely clear that the greater good of the section is of paramount importance to everyone involved. We all want a system under which teams co-operate as much as possible and in which players play for higher and lower teams than their accustomed team when selected to do so.
But I do not believe that changing the team names is the best way to achieve this - it contributes to the appearance of 'one club' but I'm not so sure about whether it brings that reality any closer. I'm inclined to think that worthy ideal can only be fully achieved if management and the selectors are able to enforce selections by bringing meaningful penalties to bear if people disappear when they are asked to play for a team that is not their preferred one.
At the moment, I believe it is fair to say that a majority of players feel that they have lost something important to their rugby experience without having been consulted on the change. A poll on my previous posting revealed 59% against replacing team names with numbers, 25% in favour and 15% indifferent. There were 32 respondents, which shows you how few people really read the Blog. But I also suspect the majority of these were Club and Drags players. A straw poll of club stalwarts from other teams certainly suggested that there is even stronger support for team names elsewhere in the section.
I admire and support the goal behind this initiative, but I disagree profoundly with the method and, should anyone care, I will not be using the numbers myself. Nor, I suspect, will we see the Sequins' Corner being renamed "The Corner Formerly Known as the Sequins' Corner" (and I can't take credit for that one) or any talk of "Mighty" FC4. In any case, I think there has been more than enough from me on this issue and you will be relieved to hear that I am going to pipe back down and concentrate on rugby.
Harps
Like an old ocean-going liner, the rugby season is beginning to get underway. However, at the last minute, the HKRFU has taken the rather odd 11th hour decision to play the knockout cup before the league season, meaning there will be no league rugby until November 8. Lord knows why, but there it is. The knockout cup will start when the league had been due to kick off on October 11.
Competitive rugby of a kind began last weekend with the Valley 15s, a competitition that really demonstrates why it is a good idea to reduce team sizes if you cut down match time. Nonetheless, rugby is rugby, and the Club boys will be disappointed to have succumbed to three successive defeats. With a growing casualty list to compound his woes, Coach Quinton Wrigley's blood pressure will be rising well before the real shooting match begins. There was better fortune for Dragons and Ice who won their divisions and claimed the club's first silverware of the season. As I understand Murray Sargant's epistle on the subject, Dragons' final came down to a draw and it had to be decided by a sprint race which 'Usain' Payne won.
On an entirely different subject, I would like to recommend H.E. Andrew Boucher's blog. He does appear to be preoccupied with one issue in particular, but his peerless style and the contributions of some other notable Scorps make this a highly entertaining read. Take a look now on
http://www.rugbyisnotbroken.blogspot.com/
Finally, I have one or two further points to make on the issue of team names, or the absence thereof. Firstly and most importantly, let's be absolutely clear that the greater good of the section is of paramount importance to everyone involved. We all want a system under which teams co-operate as much as possible and in which players play for higher and lower teams than their accustomed team when selected to do so.
But I do not believe that changing the team names is the best way to achieve this - it contributes to the appearance of 'one club' but I'm not so sure about whether it brings that reality any closer. I'm inclined to think that worthy ideal can only be fully achieved if management and the selectors are able to enforce selections by bringing meaningful penalties to bear if people disappear when they are asked to play for a team that is not their preferred one.
At the moment, I believe it is fair to say that a majority of players feel that they have lost something important to their rugby experience without having been consulted on the change. A poll on my previous posting revealed 59% against replacing team names with numbers, 25% in favour and 15% indifferent. There were 32 respondents, which shows you how few people really read the Blog. But I also suspect the majority of these were Club and Drags players. A straw poll of club stalwarts from other teams certainly suggested that there is even stronger support for team names elsewhere in the section.
I admire and support the goal behind this initiative, but I disagree profoundly with the method and, should anyone care, I will not be using the numbers myself. Nor, I suspect, will we see the Sequins' Corner being renamed "The Corner Formerly Known as the Sequins' Corner" (and I can't take credit for that one) or any talk of "Mighty" FC4. In any case, I think there has been more than enough from me on this issue and you will be relieved to hear that I am going to pipe back down and concentrate on rugby.
Harps
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