Valley pip HKCC to win Grand Championship final
Substitute winger scores near the end to topple HKCC in evenly contested final
A try seven minutes from the end by substitute winger Ryan Meacheam gave ONEworks' Valley a narrow 16-15 victory over Leighton Asia HKCC in the Grand Championship final at King's Park last night.
But the victors conceded they were lucky to emerge champions and graciously tipped their hats to Hong Kong Cricket Club who had been hoping to break a nine-year-long Grand Championships winless drought. Valley won this title two seasons ago.
"It was a 50-50 game and could have gone either way," chorused Valley captain and hooker Andrew Kelly and coach Dean Herewini. Kelly added: "I'm relieved. It was a tough encounter as the scoreline indicates".
Meacheam was on hand to finish off good concerted pressure from the Valley forwards who recycled the ball through a number of phases before the winger saw a tiny piece of daylight in the corner. Valley then held on grimly as their opponents threw everything into it.
"It is extremely disappointing to lose, especially by one point," said losing captain Simon Leung Ho-yam. "But I can't fault the effort of the guys. But this is heartbreaking."
Both teams traded penalties through their flyhalves, Ed Haynes (HKCC) and Ben Rimene to finish the first half with the scores deadlocked.