Valley gunning for revenge against HKCC in Grand Final

Double-chasing Leighton Asia HKCC will face a stern examination from Societe Generale Valley as the HKRFU Premiership draws to a juicy end with the Grand Championship final at King's Park on Saturday.

Valley will not only be thirsting for their first win over the league champions this season, but will also be hoping to make a point after their last encounter ended in controversy over the no-push scrum and with leading HKCC coaching officials being stood down.

Whether the no-push scrum ruling with 10 minutes left would have changed the result in favour of Valley (HKCC won 12-7 to seal the league title) is debatable, but it was clearly a dominant performance from Valley's pack.

And if the Valley tight five can establish this same superiority, it will give them the opportunity to win the first piece of silverware this season and defend their Grand Championship crown.

"The battle of the tight fives is obviously very important," said HKCC head coach Deacon Manu. "Valley are defending champions and will be wanting payback for our previous three encounters in the league."

HKCC defeated Valley 12-9, 3-0 and 12-7 in the league. The closeness of every encounter suggests the fly half who has brought his kicking boots will be instrumental.

Valley will start with Leon Wei Hon-sum, Dayne Jans and Kevin Curtis in the front row with Tom Broughton and Adam Campbell as the locks, while HKCC will run out with the front row of Rohan Cook, Ben Roberts and James Cooper, and with Hong Kong internationals Jack Delaforce and Paul Dwyer in the second row.

Despite the dominance shown by his pack last time, Valley head coach Jack Isaac was cautious. The ex-Biarritz French Top 14 coach preferred to label his side as "underdogs" and pointed to the league results as proof.