Newedge Club showed why they finished the home and away season second in the standings and remain the biggest threat to the resting Abacus Kowloon in the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union Premiership Grand Championship. Club, playing at home in the Quarter Finals held on Feb 16, demolished Borrelli Walsh Tigers 60-7.
Meanwhile, Leighton Asia HKCC (Hong Kong Cricket Club) won 31-6 against SCAA Standard Life CWB Rams at Kings Park; and, ONEworks’ Valley defeated Verizon HK Scottish 24-11.
With losers from all matches eliminated from the finals race, Club’s and HKCC’s victories were pretty much expected with top clubs playing opponents that finished the home-and-away season at the bottom of the table. But ONEworks’ Valley did well to win their match against HK Scottish away at Shek Kip Mei.
Club Dominate
In the match between Newedge Club and the Tigers, Club was 10-0 to the good after 18 minutes. They continued accumulating points with a converted try after 24 minutes of the game and another try under the posts after 31 minutes to make the score 24-0. A try by Club’s No. 6 close to the corner flag after a forceful run by their No. 11 took the score to 29-0 at half-time.
Club was too strong in most areas of the game but particularly in winning line-outs, but they were also quicker and stronger in open play.
Another try under the posts at the beginning of the second half increased the margin to 36-0 and they were already way out of sight, but the Tigers did put in a sustained period of attacking play forcing Club back to their try line and eventually forced a try.
Maybe Club were just soaking a bit of pressure before finishing the game off in style, coming away winners 60-7. One of the weaker areas of Club’s display was their goal-kicking where several chances were missed but it was never going to affect the result of the game.
Semi-finals
This Saturday (Feb 23) Abacus Kowoon—who had a bye in the first week of the finals series by virtue of their number one standings ranking in the season proper—will play ONEworks Valley at Kings Park. Meanwhile, Newedge Club will play Leighton Asia HKCC at Hong Kong Football Club.
The winners of these matches will play in the HKRFU Premiership League Grand Championship Final at Kings Park on Mar 2.
Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
