Hong Kong Scottish out of touch as Club capture Broony Quaich
Confusion reigns as home side kick out the ball thinking they were ahead in dying seconds at The Rock
Maybe it was the magical kicking of Danny Kroll that had everyone, including the referee, mesmerised at The Rock, but it was utter confusion at the end as home team Hong Kong Scottish, thinking they were ahead, kicked the ball out to celebrate victory over Newedge Club in the Paul Y Premiership.
It was premature rejoicing for it was quickly brought to their attention – by their opponents and a large crowd of Hong Kong Football Club fans – that in fact it was Club who had won and that the Scottish would have to hand over the Broony Quaich after having it in their possession for only a week.
A great shame it finished like that, but they had a long way to go to get up to score the points. We are delighted to bring the Broony back home to Football Club
It was absolute bedlam at a cold Shek Kip Mei Sports Ground during the closing stages. Hong Kong Scottish had a lineout inside their 22 and before they took they it asked referee Gabriel Lee what the score was.
"We were told the score was 23-21 and that we were in front," said Hong Kong Scottish captain Adrian Griffiths.
"With the last play to go, we played as if we were going to win the game. We secured the ball from the lineout and kicked it out into touch. But everyone can make mistakes."
Club's director of rugby Kevin West said: "There was confusion abou the score on the field. We knew what it was – we were slightly ahead – but Scottish were told that they were slightly ahead and they kicked it out.