Kowloon in last-gasp bid to snatch final play-off spot from HKFC

Hong Kong Cricket Club may have wrapped up the Premiership a week ahead of schedule but there’s still plenty to play for with the fourth and final Grand Championship spot on the line and the top two battling for bragging rights and one last piece of silverware.

Leighton Asia HKCC’s try-line stand against Societe Generale Valley last weekend gave them an unassailable six-point lead in the standings – and a lot of sore bodies – and Saturday’s home clash with second-placed Bloomberg HK Scottish would appear on the face of it to have little significance.

But HKCC hold the Broony Quaich – the Ranfurly Shield-style trophy that is close to the hearts of the boys from The Rock and they will throw everything they have into the match to win it back.

“We will go all out to win the Broony Quaich,” said HK Scottish general manager Dave Whiteford. “I think HKCC have some major injury problems in the forwards, especially in the front row, so I’m sure we will look to take them on up front.”

The battle for the final playoff spot resumes at King’s Park with fifth-placed Abacus Kowloon (21 points) hosting fourth-placed Natixis HKFC (26).

To force their way into the Grand Championship Kowloon need a massive win of 40 or more points and a try-fest against a determined HKFC seems unlikely. But they haven’t given up hope just yet.

“The final four hasn’t been decided,” said Kowloon head coach James Brooks.

And despite their five-point lead and superior points-scored differential HKFC rugby director Kevin West won’t be taking any chances.

“You need to guard against any complacency in sport,” he said. “We will be treating this match as our quarter-final.”

In Saturday’s other Premiership encounter Valley will host Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers who are still seeking their first win this season.

“The key for us is to try and finish on a high against Valley and more importantly enjoy the challenge,” said Tigers head coach Chris Davies.

“The players have worked hard all year and have come up just a little short on three or four occasions where a win was on the cards. We just need to ensure we play for the full 80 minutes, not in patches or for only 60 minutes, as once we apply ourselves we are capable of breaking defences,” he added.

But the challenge will be even harder for Tigers as they will be missing several key players – Tyler Spitz, Calvin Hunter, Chris Maize and Eric Kwok Pak-nga – who are on national team sevens duty in Australia.