Billington comes out top in first Beep test
THE territory's top rugby players went beep-beep yesterday watched by national coach George Simpkin, who was carrying out his first fitness assessment as Hong Kong build-up to a busy international schedule this year.
Using, for the first time, a method called the Beep Test - which the world's top rugby players regularly undergo - Simpkin will be able to monitor the speed and stamina levels of his 42-strong squad who are preparing for the South Korean tour next month, and also the eight-nation Pan Pacific Series.
The Beep Test - which sees players progressively moving faster between two lines, 20 metres apart (having to reach each line at the sound of a beep) - finished with Valley winger Ashley Billington topping the list.
Although Simpkin was reasonably pleased with the progress of his squad, it is worthwhile remembering that Leicester loose forward Neil Back had scored 16.5 on this test. Hong Kong's elite will do well to achieve 14s, with only two players achieving this level.
'I will want to have a fitness assessment once every three weeks at least,' said Simpkin afterwards.
Apart from the Beep test, the players also did vertical jumps, sit-ups and press-ups. Valley Mustangs turned on the style in the last quarter against Club Scorpions to win 25-7 and bag the Second Division League title. Leading 8-7 with 15 minutes to go, Mustangs opened up with tries from full-back Jason Farr-Cornell and scrum-half Simon Wintle. The win enabled Valley to make a clean sweep with Valley Red having already won the First Division.
