Police beat a lost ball, a helicopter, and Forces
POLICE overcame chilly weather, a lost ball, a delay caused by a landing helicopter and determined opposition to beat British Forces 13-8 in a Hong Kong First Division match at King's Park yesterday.
Without several first-team players, Police warmed up the chilly and drizzly afternoon with a converted try and two penalties to edge past the plucky soldiers, who were within sight of only their second win of the season.
But there were also plenty of off-field distractions to keep the sparse crowd entertained.
When the ball fell on to the adjacent South China Athletic Association tennis courts, the tennis players refused to return it. Despite the appeals of a Forces reserve player - and some cat calls from the crowd - the ball was casually tossed in a rubbish bin. The reserve player had to retrieve the ball from the bin himself.
There was also an extended half-time break when, just as the second half was kicking off, a Government helicopter bringing in a casualty to the British Military Hospital landed on the hockey pitch next to the rugby field.
On the field, Forces were close to pulling off an unlikely win, trailing 10-8 but piling on the pressure, when Dave Baston landed a 25-yard penalty to give Police the 13-8 lead which they held on to.
Jim Walker opened the scoring for Police 15 minutes into the match, bursting through two weak tackles to touch down near the posts.
Baston converted and also kicked over a 30th-minute penalty. Earlier, Ian Adamson scored an unconverted try for Forces.
