Tigers look to shake underdogs tag by laying down big marker against Scottish

There will come a point in the very near future when Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers are no longer seen as underdogs or the “surprise package” of the HKRU Premiership. That day will come, but not yet …

HKRU Premiership 2015-16

SCMP Reporter

Published: 9:45pm, 23 Oct 2015

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There will come a point in the very near future when Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers are no longer seen as underdogs or the “surprise package” of the HKRU Premiership.

That day will come, but not yet … and almost certainly not this weekend when third-placed Tigers host second-placed Bloomberg HK Scottish at King’s Park in the fourth round of the fledgling 2015-16 season.

Saturday’s other match-ups may appear easier to call – with unbeaten Societe Generale Valley hosting winless Sabre Kowloon and Natixis HKFC away to Leighton Asia HKCC in Aberdeen – but the Tigers-Scottish clash offers an intriguing clash of styles.

Tigers have turned themselves around this season. [They] have quite a strong pack, so we expect a big battle up front. It will be pretty physical

Bryan Rennie, HK Scottish GM

The rugged Tigers pack have upset the balance of power this season, notching wins against HKFC (24-16) and Kowloon (26-14), but an in-form Scottish outfit fresh from running in seven tries against HKFC last weekend are an altogether different prospect.

If there was ever a time for Tigers to lay down a marker early in the season it is this Saturday, and head coach Craig Stewart is well aware of the task that lays before his charges.

“It’s a big weekend coming up,” he said. “It will be important to control the game on our terms, getting our decision-making right. You can be sure they won’t give us too many second chances.”

The new Tigers coach has brought quality players, wins and points and a hard-working edge to the club, but the combinations haven’t always clicked and Stewart is the first to admit there is room for improvement.

“A lot of our guys are still disappointed with how we played at the weekend [against HKFC], and they are looking to put things right. We know we can be much better,” he said.

“We are obviously happy to have bagged a couple of wins. We’re realistic. We’ve got a couple of big games over the next two weeks. It’s still early days in the season.”

Amplifying the size of the Tigers’ task is the offensive firepower of a Scottish backs unit who got over seven times to win 46-19 against Club last Saturday.

They were led admirably up front by co-captain and number eight Kane Boucaut and from the rear by fullback Ben Cullen, and were steered around the park by scrum-half Mikey Moeahu, a man with experience from the New Zealand U19s and with the Western Force Academy.

In Saturday’s late game in the HKRU Women’s Premiership, Valley Black Ladies (red) will take on near-neighbours and arch-rivals HKFC Ice at Sports Road.

But general manager Bryan Rennie says the HK Scottish players are not getting ahead of themselves. “It’s going to be a tough game [on Saturday],” he said.

“Tigers have turned themselves around this season. [They] have quite a strong pack, so we expect a big battle up front. It will be pretty physical. Our guys are going to have to be on their game up front and in set-pieces,” Rennie added.

Meanwhile, round four of the HKRU Women’s Premiership sees a double-header at Shek Kip Mei.

The Sabre Kowloon Ladies take on the CPM Gai Wu Falcons in the afternoon game (16:30), followed by SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix versus Transact 24 Tai Po Dragon Ladies (18:00).

In the third match of the day, Natixis HKFC Ice and Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies go head-to-head at Sports Road (18:00).

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