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IT has been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait for Crosby Kowloon, who last night broke a four-year drought to lift the Foster's Knockout Cup.

 Kowloon beat DeA 29-10 to spark joyous scenes at the Hong Kong Football Club.

 It was Kowloon's first noteworthy First Division rugby union title since the 1992-93 season when they won the same trophy.

 'Our perseverance has paid off. It has been a long wait, but it was worth it,' said Kowloon winger Nick Godfrey, the only surviving member from that Kowloon team of four years ago.

 Kowloon outplayed First Division debutants DeA in every department and scored five tries to one as they lived up to their reputation for playing entertaining rugby.

 'This win is good for the club and good for the individuals. Everything has come together,' said a delighted Kowloon coach Phil Campbell, the other member of that class of '93, as a choir of Kowloon fans celebrated their team's win.

 Spurred on by a superb display from their forwards, who totally dominated the set pieces, Kowloon ran the ball at will with midfield stars Riaz Fredericks and Nigel D'Acre creating headaches for DeA.

 Kowloon fly-half Mark Parlane - who will be hunting a second Cup medal in the cricket final today - astutely controlled play. The former Auckland Under-21 combined well with scrum-half and two-try hero John MacAlister.

 Their job was made easy by the dominance of their backrow with No. 8 Steve Day and flanker Steve Thompson stand outs.

 Locks Ben Perrin and Steve Pengelly had another good day at the office, while the front row of skipper Niall McCarthy, hooker Callum Crawford and Leighton Duley pushed DeA all around the park. As if this was not enough, tighthead prop Duley was seen roaming around the field like a back and in a manner which belied his age (38).

 Duley, who has played a huge role this season in lifting the fortunes of Kowloon, was instrumental in getting Kowloon's first points. From a lineout near the DeA line, Perrin soared high and Duley did the rest driving through to score. Kowloon led 17-3 at half-time with two more tries from MacAlister and D'Acre.

 DeA tried desperately to stem the tide. Lock Sean Lanigan, breakaway Gary Cross and No. 8 Paul Dingley were valiant, but they were fighting a lost cause as Kowloon punched holes in their defence.

 DeA's pack was outplayed and their backs were lacking in pace as Kowloon wrapped it up with tries by Godfrey and MacAlister. Rob Naylor scored a consolation try for DeA, but any hopes of finishing their debut season in style had long vanished.



Kowloon end four-year trophy drought in style