Classy Chinese fullback Zhang Zhiqiang has a habit of tormenting Hong Kong rugby. Yesterday, he enhanced this growing reputation when he scored all the points, including a try, as China Agricultural University drew 13-13 with Asahi Valley in the Asian Dragons Inter City Series encounter in Beijing.
It was not quite the 'Brawl on the Wall'. But it could have erupted into one as the pride of Hong Kong rugby were left frustrated by the local referee's interpretations, which according to coach Rodney McIntosh robbed his side of victory.
'We are disappointed with the result. It was a messy game and stop-start all the way. The penalty count, which was 30-6 against us, should tell the story,' McIntosh said.
'I'm not taking anything away from the CAU. They played well, and had a good lineout and were very clinical. But the referee was not up to standard and his interpretation, especially the offside rule, left us frustrated,' added the coach of the champion Hong Kong club. 'We were continuously blown up for infringing at the rucks and mauls, too.'
Valley led 7-0 at the break through a try from their new No 8 Clinton Heaps who, supporting superbly, received a well-timed inside pass from winger Jason Going to score by the posts. Fly-half Carl Murray converted as Valley, struggling to string together multi-phase moves, limped to a modest lead.
That lead was quickly overhauled when Zhang, 27, kicked a penalty and then showed his flair by chipping over the Valley defence and collecting the bounce to score and also strike a blow for individuality, an aspect fast disappearing from modern rugby. Zhang, who during the 1998-99 season played for Aberdeen in the local First Division, has become a thorn in Hong Kong sides. In April, he scored 20 points, including two tries, as China held Hong Kong to a 25-25 draw in the IRB Asian Shield triangular series in Guangzhou.
