‘Determined’ Scottish vow to give makeshift HKCC a fierce fight for Broony Quaich
Leighton Asia HKCC will be missing four key players on Saturday as they try to storm the fortress Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish have created at The Rock in Shek Kip Mei.
Leighton Asia HKCC will be missing four key players on Saturday as they try to storm the fortress Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish have created at The Rock in Shek Kip Mei.
Powerhouse forwards Adrian Griffiths and Moses Bailey and key backs Alex McQueen and Tom Marshall have still not recovered from injury leaving Hong Kong Cricket Club head coach Deacon Manu trying to make do with a patch-up job in a bid to maintain their place at the top of the standings.
"We have a lot of injuries so it will take another big performance by our squad to make sure we get a good result this weekend," said Manu, who last week was forced to play winger Tom McQueen as a flanker
Both teams haven’t been firing on all cylinders after the international break but I’m sure Saturday will bring out the best in each of us
That demonstrated how desperate things have become up front for HKCC, however Manu’s makeshift side managed to cling on to beat Societe Generale Valley 3-0 thanks to a penalty from fly-half Angus Cameron.
Luckily for HKCC, Valley goal-kicker Reese Hamon had an off-day and HKCC still top the standings with 32 points, four in front of HK Scottish.
They cannot expect such good fortune to come knocking again, especially with HK Scottish fired up as they try to hold on to the Broony Quaich, their most pressing target before the Christmas break.
"We are determined to hold on to the Quaich and we know if we perform, we could be on top [of the standings] at Christmas," said HK Scottish general manager Dave Whiteford.
"Both teams haven't been firing on all cylinders after the international break but I'm sure Saturday will bring out the best in each of us.
"We didn't show up until it was too late in the first match against them this season [when HK Scottish lost 41-14] which was very frustrating considering it was such a big game.
"Cricket Club have so much depth and quality throughout their squad that it is always a very physical encounter up front, and then you cannot take your eyes of their speedsters in the backs," Whiteford said.
HK Scottish will welcome back Kane Boucaut and Jack Parfitt, the latter having spent the week in hospital with a blood infection.
While the top-of-the-table clash will be the main focus, there will be another equally important clash on Saturday between Natixis HKFC and Abacus Kowloon, as both clubs tussle for the vital fourth spot.
Meanwhile, the King’s Park clash between Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers and Valley has been switched to a 20:15 kick-off slot on Friday night
