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SCMP Reporter

WhichWay Valley stamped their Premiership title credentials on Tuesday night, edging Leighton Asia HKCC 21-20 in a top of the table clash at home.
The victory sees Valley go level with HKCC at the top of the league standings, with both teams on 35 points and HKCC only ahead on their superior points differential.
Ben Rimene’s precision goal-kicking helped Valley get the second half of their campaign off to a winning start as he knocked over seven penalties in a thrilling game that saw the lead change hands twice in the dying minutes.
“It’s good to start off with a win [in the New Year] even though it’s only by one point. It gives us a good platform,” said relieved Valley coach Deano Herewini.

	At the start of the match we spoke about field position and penalties and we didn't win either of those battles

	HKCC coach Andy Hall
“Our guys gave a good performance and to come from behind in the end, take the lead and hang on there is really encouraging.”
A penalty try in the dying minutes – following a deliberate knock-on – came on the back of a long period of sustained pressure on the Valley line and allowed HKCC to edge ahead.
But their 20-18 lead was short-lived as Rimene knocked over his seventh penalty of the match to give Valley a narrow victory that also meant they retain the Broony Quaich.
“We gave away too many penalties,” said disappointed HKCC coach Andy Hall. “We could look elsewhere and beyond our circle for excuses, but we are not going to do that. We have to look within and shake ourselves down.”
HKCC scored the only tries of the match and dominated play for long periods. Only an ironclad defence and Rimene’s boot turned the game in Valley’s favour.
“At the start of the match we spoke about two things – field position and penalties – and I think in the first half we didn't win either of those battles,” Hall added.
“That's disappointing. We tried to remedy it in the second half and, to some extent, we did but at crucial moments our discipline let us down.”
Valley took a slender 6-3 lead at half-time, courtesy of two penalties from Rimene who has been in fine kicking form in recent weeks. He kicked Hong Kong to victory against Belgium last month.
Hong Kong Cricket Club had the best of the early proceedings and dominated for long periods in a tightly contested first half. Winger Alex McQueen came close to scoring the first try of the half, minutes before the break, but a superb cover tackle from his counterpart Jean-Baptiste Aldige saved the day for Valley.
Valley had an early chance, with their forwards led by national team skipper Nick Hewson coming close to crossing the line, but a botched final pass resulted in Rimene’s two penalties being the only dividends for the home team.
Rimene began the second half in the same fashion as he finished the first, knocking over two penalties to stretch the lead to 12-3. HKCC cut the deficit to just two points with the first try of the game scored by scrumhalf Tom Marshall and converted by Angus Cameron.
HKCC then grabbed the lead, 13-12, courtesy of Cameron who knocked over a penalty awarded when new blindside flanker Wesley Wilkins, signed from Currie Cup side Griquas, was cut down without the ball as he chased his own chip over the defence.
Marshall learned the hard way that it takes just minutes to go from hero to zero when he was sin-binned for an infringement in the ruck and Valley accepted the chance gratefully with Rimene knocking over his fifth penalty to give his side a 15-13 lead.
Rimene extended the lead to 18-13 with another penalty awarded for a high tackle as Valley continued to punish HKCC for every mistake.
A series of five-metre scrums finally paid dividends for HKCC when Valley captain Andrew Kelly was penalided for deliberately knocking on, giving Cameron the easy task of converting the penalty try under the posts.
But it was Rimene who had the final say.
“To be honest, we only played at 50 per cent of our potential,” Herewini said. “I’m not knocking HKCC but they were pretty much at full strength whereas we have hopefully got another four or five guys still to come back. It’s a good thing in terms of our squad depth.
“It’s good for our boys to win and set the platform for the run home. The key was the commitment shown by the boys to come back from holiday early and get into training. We had two training [sessions] before this game and it was crucial for us,” Herewini added.
The Paul Y Premiership gets back into full swing on Saturday with a full line-up of matches.


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HKRU Premiership

Valley edge HKCC in top-of-the-table clash

Fly-half Ben Rimene – the scorer of all 21 Valley points – attempts to break free from a Ben Wheatley tackle. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Full-strength HKCC aim to ‘come out of the blocks strongly’ against Valley

Hooker Ben Roberts is one of three key players returning from injury for Leighton Asia HKCC. Photo: May Tse

Sport

Rugby

Fifteens

Full-strength Premiership leaders suffer second defeat of the season


WhichWay Valley stamped their Premiership title credentials on Tuesday night, edging Leighton Asia HKCC 21-20 in a top of the table clash at home.


Valley edge HKCC in top-of-the-table clash

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Full-strength Premiership leaders suffer second defeat of the season

Full-strength Premiership leaders suffer second defeat of the season