Valley and HK Scottish Jostle For Top of Table in Hong Kong Men's Premiership
The fight for the league championship in the Rugbypass.com Men’s Premiership is now effectively a race in two, with Societe Generale Valley and Bloomberg HK Scottish both holding a healthy lead over third-placed Natixis HKFC.
Watch the Game of the Week: Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers Vs Societe Generale Valley
Societe Generale Valley, who sit top, a point in front of Bloomberg HK Scottish and nine clear of HKFC, travel to King’s Park this weekend for a 3pm kick-off against bottom side Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers in the RugbyPass.Com Game of the Week. Saturday’s other two clashes begin at 4.30pm, with Scottish and HKFC facing off at Shek Kip Mei and Kowloon hosting Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC, also at King’s Park.
Valley coach Andrew Kelly is preparing his squad for a stern test from Tigers, saying the cellar dwellers have been “unlucky in a few games” this season.
“They’ve got a really good squad and a mobile pack which will cause us trouble,” Kelly said.
Valley were impressive in dispatching HKFC last weekend but, in a warning to the competition, Kelly feels there is still plenty of improvement in his side.
“When we looked at the game we actually found that our first phase attack wasn’t the best, so we have looked at that and hopefully we can cause Tigers some problems,” he said.
The unavailability of Hong Kong’s top sevens players due to the tour to Fiji will hit Valley as hard as anyone, with Max Woodward, Toby Fenn, Lee Jones and Ben Rimene all unavailable. The likely return of the experienced Nick Hewson – who sat out last week due to concussion – will ease their absence, although Kelly is also dealing will other injury troubles.
“We are hoping Nick will be available, it looks like he will be. Thomas Lamboley unfortunately suffered an ankle injury so he is out, so there will be a few changes to the team but we have got a fairly strong squad so we should be able to cope,” Kelly said.
Tigers will also suffer from the sevens tour, with dynamic scrum-half pairing Cado Lee Ka-to and Jason Jeyam among those unavailable for Craig Stewart’s side.
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473723660″]
The match between Scottish and HKFC will be a blinder, with the visitors in desperate need of a victory to keep their top-two chances alive.
Scottish have been forced to come from behind in their last two matches against Tigers and HKCC due to slow starts and coach Craig Hammond is hoping his charges address this issue on Saturday.
“We know how much firepower Club have got and they have shown that in the last few weeks,” he said.
“They love to attack and throw the ball around and we have to make sure we don’t give them that head start and end up trying to claw back 20 points like we have in the last two games. A big focus for us is to make sure we start well and ideally get a bit of a lead or [at least] stay in the game in the first half.”
Hammond expects to take in a side very similar to last week’s, with hooker Lachlan Chubb getting a chance to start and flanker Ewan Miller in the mix for a return.
“We’re a point behind and this game is pretty crucial for us,” Hammond said.
“If we get a win we will have a bit of separation between one and two and the number three spot. If we slip up it is going to be a tight race to the end. We understand that. You can say it’s about trying to win the league, but for us at the moment it’s working well and we’re just going about it game by game. If we put a good performance in on Saturday then we will deserve to stay up near the top.”
Kowloon will be hoping to continue their good form and keep the unlikely chance of a top-two berth alive against HKCC. Coach James Scaysbrook is expecting HKCC’s strong forward pack and exciting backs to take it to his side, but is full of praise for how his players are going at the moment.
“The effort levels from the lads at the minute are great, that’s the biggest positive about everything we are doing at the moment,” he said.
“The work ethic of everyone, not just on the weekends but also during the week, is really good and it’s standing us in good stead.”
Scaysbrook says star back Olly Barkley should be back after the Chinese New Year break, while the impending return of Hong Kong-experienced hooker Alex Harris from a knee injury will further strengthen Kowloon.
“The squad is getting stronger all the time and Alex coming back strengthens us more,” Scaysbrook said.
“We have got tough decisions to make in the back five of the scrum in the next few weeks as we head into the back end of the season with everyone playing so well. That is a good problem to have and we have got a much stronger squad this year than last.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
33 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments