Gai Wu gang tackle HKFC 8 Bridgette Sefton. Photo: HKRU
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/womens-hkru-premiership/article/3159361/gai-wu-falcons-vintage-performance-caps Women's HKRU Premiership
Gai Wu Falcons’ ‘vintage performance’ caps a dramatic Hong Kong Women’s Premiership Super Saturday
- Falcons book their place among final four for Grand Championship play-offs with a 24-13 victory over Nataxis HKFC Ice
- Societe Generale Valley RFC stay undefeated with a solid 20-10 win against DAC Kowloon
Chow Mei Nam muscles over for the score vs HKFC’s Rachel Fong. Photo: HKRU
Gai Wu Falcons pulled out a “vintage performance” to beat Natixis HKFC Ice 24-13 and book their place in the Grand championship play-offs.
Befitting a battle for the last remaining spot among the top four of the Dettol Women’s Premiership, Saturday’s match was tense.
Gai Wu had a phenomenal start, putting HKFC under pressure with a try from Cathy Wong, set up by a great carry from Jasmine Fung in traffic beneath the Club posts.
Christy Cheng was inspirational after coming on as an injury reserve in the opening minute and helped stretch the lead to 12-0. Cheng’s try was converted by Charmaine da Costa as the Falcons pulled ahead early on, and they did not look back.
For Falcons coach Andrew Li the win was the culmination of months of effort.
“We turned up today and we didn’t play like the last time we played Club. They beat us for the first time in 10 years and I think we set the record straight tonight,” he said.
“They were physical but it was not a shock for us. The girls did so well and Christy [Cheng] and the senior players had a massive impact. This was a vintage Gai Wu performance.”
The early game saw Societe Generale Valley RFC defeat DAC Kowloon Ladies 20-10 and steer clear of the pack with an undefeated 10-0 record.
The first half was nothing short of an arm wrestle, with only a single try on the board from fullback Agnes Tse, as Valley led 7-0 after Zoe Smith’s conversion.
Both teams moved the ball well, but the defences were up and the match was contested fiercely in midfield.
After conceding the try, it was all Kowloon as the maroon machine moved the action into the Valley 22 for much of the half. But Valley powered on after the break and secured yet another victory.
Kowloon’s Georgia Rivers rounds the Valley defence for the score. Photo: HKRU
In the late game, Kroll USRC Tigers Ladies secured a thumping 56-10 win over SCAA Causeway Bay Phoenix to keep a firm grip on second place in the Premiership and ease into the final four.
In the Dettol Men’s Premiership Game of the Week, Natixis HKFC overcame an injury hit Impacthk HKU Sandy Bay 43-15, while KPMG HK Scottish sent Societe Generale Valley to the bottom of the table 45-12 with Valley in danger of missing the Grand Championship entirely.
HKFC are top with 46 points, followed by Kowloon on 28 points and Tigers trailing in third on 24 points.