HONG KONG—Societe Generale Valley maintained their unbeaten start to the Hong Kong Premiership with a convincing win 31-17 over Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish at The Rock (Shek Kip Mei).
The wide pitch and savannah-like space provided the Valley backs with a mouth-watering opportunity to run the ball and enjoy ample pitch space.
The game started with Valley immediately testing the Scottish defense. Within 5minutes Valley had probed left and right, and found room out wide for winger Doug Fluker to cross for Valley to open the scoring. The conversion was missed, but the try signaled intent, giving Valley a confidence boosting lead, 5-0. Soon extended to 8-0, with a penalty by from flyhalf Matt Rosslee.
Scottish began to gain momentum, and once refreshed and rejuvenated from the ‘water break’ Ewan Miller bustled over for a try under the posts, and flyhalf Gregor McNeish, added the points, to narrow the score to 8-7 after 20 minutes. Scottish won a penalty 5 minutes later, and after lip by Valley, gained another 10 metres, making it eminently kickable; which McNeish duly did. Scottish led 8-10. For the first time this season, Valley was behind on the scoreboard.
That unusual state-of-affairs did not last long. From the restart Valley applied pressure, collecting the ball directly from the kick-off and settled into the Scottish 22. Rosslee missed a penalty, and winger Ryan Meacheam, was smother-tackled crossing the Scottish tryline, after beating two players and running 30 metres.
At 32 minutes, Valley pressure was finally rewarded with another penalty, this time converted by Rosslee, putting Valley back in the lead 11-10. Then at 36 minutes, Valley produced a sublime piece of play. The highlight of the match. Rosslee cross-ticked from right to left for centre Max Woodward to catch, and pass inside to the on-running Fluker who strolled over the line for his second try of the afternoon, converted by Rosslee. Valley now looked comfortable with an 18-10 lead. A Valley penalty on the stroke of halftime, made it 21-10. Valley in the ascendant; Scottish feeling the game slipping.
