USRC Tigers roar in flying start to HKRU Premiership season
New coach Craig Stewart leads perennial minnows to their first win in more than two seasons - a 26-14 triumph over HKFC
Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers, under new coach Craig Stewart, stormed to their first win in more than two seasons with a 26-14 victory over Natixis HKFC as the Hong Kong Rugby Union Premiership kicked off on Saturday.
Tigers opened the scoring against HKFC in the fourth minute when prop Dan Barlow bulled over from in close.
Scrum-half Matt Price added the conversion and would go on to add three successful penalties in the first half alone en route to a man of the match performance.
HKFC and Hong Kong fly-half Niall Rowark uncharacteristically missed two kickable penalties to keep his side in contention early on.
The other Premiership matches followed the form book with defending grand champions Societe Generale Valley and league winners Leighton Asia HKCC both winning.
HKCC turned away the challenge of Sabre Kowloon 26-10 to retain the Broony Quaich, Hong Kong rugby’s Ranfurly Shield-style competition.
The finale of the first Super Saturday of the season between Valley and Bllomberg Hong Kong Scottish was played in heavy rain and blustery conditions.
Valley played the better wet-weather rugby with fly-half Reece Hamon notching four penalties to help them to a 24-8 win.
In first-round action from the HKRU Women’s Premiership, Natixis HKFC Ice celebrated their first foray in the Premiership for several seasons with a 20-7 win over Sabre Kowloon Ladies.
CPM Gai Wu Falcons and Valley Black Ladies again demonstrated why they are the strongest outfits in local women’s rugby with Gai Wu tipping SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay Phoenix 22-0, while league and Grand Championship double-winners Valley beat Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers 17-0.
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