Updates from Steve Tarrant - Director of Rugby
Two great games at the Police Club today, where both teams played some excellent rugby and it was evident to me how the coaching has really helped the boys develop. Full marks to Gunny, Tank, Chi Lam, Ivan, Billy and Andy for all the hard work they do on Wednesdays and other ad-hoc sessions they organise. That four of them are boys who have come through the Breakthrough teams really makes me proud.
The first match was the U16s against Causeway Bay and the boys ran out 55 – 10 winners. The forwards were very disciplined, won some good ball and gave away hardly any penalties, unlike the opposition, but it was the backs who really shone. We have some great speed in the backs, which coupled by some good passing meant we were always dangerous in attack. The game was a real pleasure to watch and the commitment shown by everyone was fantastic.
Next up was the U19s and they were against the strongest team in the league HKU and we went down 31 – 17, but it seemed much closer than that. We dominated the scrums with our two big Filipino props shoving the opposition pack off the ball quite a few times. An area of the game I really appreciate. Elsewhere we rucked and mauled well and denied the opposition possession for long periods. But the HKU backs were strong and when they did get some ball in space they were hard to stop. There was some strong tackling, but in the end we paid dearly for the ones we missed and they scored 5 tries to our 3, all through their outside centre and wings. The boys played well and it was a closer game than the score line suggests.
No games next weekend and our next matches are due on 3 November 2013 at 1pm and 2.15pm at the Police Club, when both the U16s and U19s will be in action.
Some of you who watch the premiership rugby may note that HK Scottish are wearing our logo on their shirts this season. In the past a couple of our lads have played for them and it is a team we would be pleased to push our better players to in the future. This is yet another example of the support the local rugby community offers us and I wish HK Scottish lots of success this season and it will obviously help to keep our name to the fore. My thanks to the HK Scottish Chairman, Stewart Saunders, for pushing the idea.
Lastly don’t forget if any of you are interested in watching Sures fight in his second pro fight at the HKFC on 16 November drop me a line or get your tickets through the British Chamber of Commerce. It should be a great evening and a good warm up for the following weekend when another famous boxer, Pacquiao, fights in Macau.