Ill-discipline proves costly for HKCC in Premiership
Khrist Kopetzky's boot is key as Valley hand HKCC their first loss of the season
The shouts of "squeaky" got louder and louder as the first half progressed but it was all in vain as Leighton Asia HKCC committed foul after foul at the breakdown, with each penalty gleefully accepted by Khrist Kopetzky of WhichWay Valley, who ended the league leaders' unbeaten run yesterday with a hard-fought 20-15 victory.
"We spoke about our discipline before the game and knew that it would be the key. We wanted to be squeaky clean but we didn't live up to it," said HKCC skipper Ben Roberts.
"And their kicker banged it through the middle every time and made us pay for it. It was a poor performance, probably the worst we have played all season, but on the plus side we got a bonus point and we will take that."
HKCC began strongly when hardworking No 8 Pale Tauti crossed over for an unconverted try from a close-range lineout. But they soon lost the lead and their edge as Valley scrumhalf Kopetzky was on target with five of the six penalties that came his way before the break, giving his side a 15-5 half-time lead.
"We didn't get anything at the breakdown. All those penalties cost us," said disappointed HKCC coach Andy Hall. "But it is good for us at this time of the year as it will shake us up a little bit so we can get back on the horse."
It was a battle of attrition in an engrossing game as both sets of forwards bunkered down. HKCC dominated for long periods and, off one such phase, centre Alex McQueen broke through a tackle to power his way over beneath the posts. He converted the try to close the gap to just three points.
It was then the turn of Lee Jones – McQueen's sevens colleague on the opposite side – who came off the bench in the second half and immediately made his presence felt.
Jones kicked the ball along the ground and chased strongly to set up a try for winger Salom Yiu Kam-shing, which stretched the lead to 20-12. A McQueen penalty at the death gave HKCC a consolation point for finishing within seven points.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Scottish were over the moon after lifting the Broony Quaich – Hong Kong's version of the Ranfurly Shield. "Winning this means a lot to us and hopefully it will be our turning point for the season," said skipper Adrian Griffiths.
Against Kowloon, two tries from Dave Whiteford were converted by Danny Kroll, who also knocked over a penalty to give Hong Kong Scottish a 17-0 half-time lead.
But the defending league champions came back strongly in the second half with tries from winger Tang Ming-fai and Eni Gesinde, cutting the gap to just eight points.
The comeback was cut short minutes later when, against the run of play, Kroll scored an intercept try to whisk the rug and the Broony Quaich from under Kowloon.
In Super Saturday's opening match, Newedge Club needed to dig deep to defeat a gutsy Borrelli Walsh Tigers side 18-12.
A drop-goal and a penalty from Matthew Price gave Tigers a 6-0 lead before Club hit back with a try from Adam Raby. Price extended the lead to 9-5 after the break, but Club clawed their way back to lead 18-9 with tries from Sebastien Alfonsi and James Hood, and a penalty from Raby.
Price knocked over his third penalty late in the game, giving Tigers their first point of the season.
