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Scottish and Kowloon Take Prizes as Premiership Race Intensifies

By RugbyPass
Scottish centre Lex Kaleca lays a bruising tackle on his Tigers opponent at King’s Park on Saturday

Catch up on the action from Round 11 of Hong Kong’s premiere club rugby competition.

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Round 11 of the Rugbypass.com Men’s Premiership again highlighted just how even the competition is this season, with bottom side Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers pushing Bloomberg HK Scottish all the way in a 35-27 loss and Kowloon defeating top side Societe Generale Valley 25-15.

Kowloon’s victory ensured the race for the league championship remains wide open, with four sides all having live chances, while the final match of the round saw Natixis HKFC beat Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC 31-28.

At King’s Park, Scottish came from 20-6 down at half time to land a win that puts them just a point behind Valley on the table.

“They are at the bottom of the table and they were 20 points to six up and looking pretty dangerous,” Scottish coach Craig Hammond said.

“They are a class team and when you go through the teamsheets there are no easy games, there are no rubbish players out there now. It’s going to be an exciting finish to it.”

Scottish established the upper hand in the scrum early in the match and the crafty kicking of fly half Gregor McNeish ensured the visitors had the run of play.

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McNeish got the scoring underway with a penalty and made it 6-0 soon after with a drop goal from close range, however Tigers were able to limit any further damage with some desperate defending.

McNeish’s opposite number Robbie Keith hit back for the hosts with a penalty of his own as the first quarter of the match drew to a close.

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The back end of the first half was all Tigers, with the home side grabbing the lead through a try to No 8 Josh Hrstich and forging further ahead when Tomo Howells crossed.

Keith added the extras on both occasions to ensure the Tigers entered the break with a healthy 20-6 lead.

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After half time, Scottish showed the grit that has seen them be one of the most impressive sides in the competition this season, working their way back into the match.

Their comeback was largely due to the brilliance of centre Conor Hartley, whose three-try blitz turned a 14-point deficit into a seven-point lead for Scottish.

Hartley was the beneficiary of some slick passing from his teammates but was unstoppable, crossing three times in 15 minutes.

“He’s a big bugger, I thought when I met him he was a second-rower, but I’m pretty glad he plays in the centres or on the wing for us,” Hammond said.

“He’s a young bloke, he’s just turned, I think, 24 and he runs pretty hard and he is a pretty good threat with the ball in hand. He kind of carried that second half for us and really put some pressure on them.”

Tigers stemmed the bleeding as the half wore on and a McNeish penalty that made it 30-20 was the only score for some time.

Just when it looked as though Scottish would coast to any easy victory, Tigers found a way, with Chiefs development player Joseph Ikenasio crossing the line after some sharp passing to bring the scoreline to 30-27.

The match looked destined for a grandstand finish but Scottish winger Austin Robertshaw didn’t read the script, intercepting a Tigers pass near the halfway line and streaking away for the final try of the match.

“We always said it was going to be that team that came out after the Christmas break and were firing,” Hammond said.

“It was good to get a bonus point right at the end, we don’t get too many bonus points as the defence is so good this season, there aren’t a lot of bonus points in the league. I’m happy with the boys and that keeps us climbing up the table.”

Kowloon trailed early in their win over Valley but matched the top side throughout the first half and then took the ascendancy in the second half.

“I’m happy with the result but not necessarily happy with everything through the game,” Kowloon coach James Scaysbrook said.

“I thought the forwards did really well today, I thought they were really on and we were winning the scrum, that’s been a big weapon for Valley and we were really pleased with that. Everything was built on that today.”

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A
Adrian 25 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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FEATURE Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby? Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?
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