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Tyler Spitz (right) prepares to get involved as Tigers defeat HKFC. Photos: HKRU

Tyler Spitz feeding off winning habit as Tigers make it five on the trot in Hong Kong Premiership

The 27-year-old gives it his all as his side notch a 24-22 win over HKFC, while Valley and Scottish also salute

They have won five on the trot and Tyler Spitz says the Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers have developed a winning habit that few would have thought possible when the 27-year-old joined the club less than three years ago.

The Tigers were coming off a winless 2014-15 season when Spitz arrived and built slowly in his first two years, before exploding this season to be 6-2 after Saturday’s 24-22 win over Natixis HKFC.

“Winning is a habit and we are starting to learn how to finish games, it’s amazing to get five on the trot,” Hong Kong-born Spitz said. “It’s a bit of a turn this season, these are games we would have lost last year and the year before.

“When you go through a winless season, it takes a few seasons to build into something bigger. It’s been a process, each year we’ve got a little bit better and we have really hit it this year.”

Calvin Hunter (right) and Lawrence Miller celebrate Tigers’ win over HKFC.

Spitz is also a key member of the Hong Kong side and says that being part of a winning team at club level augurs well for his performances at national level.

“All our games at club level, they put you in a good position for the national games and the competition here is getting so strong,” he said.

“It means that we are playing good footy week in, week out and winning with Tigers puts you in a positive mindset when representing Hong Kong.”

Tigers sit second on the table, just a point behind Societe Generale Valley, and Spitz is confident they can continue their push in the second half of the season.

HKFC's Tom Isaacs kicks forward.

“The mentality has changed and there is a really good vibe within the group, I’m really glad to be a part of it and to be around the boys in this atmosphere,” he said.

They were lucky to notch their sixth win of the season on Saturday, with HKFC’s Russ Webb missing a conversion attempt after 80 minutes to level the scores.

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Tries to full back Glyn Hughes and scrum half Henry Poon put Football Club within reach after they had trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half.

Earlier, HKFC got the jump through an early try to Max Denmark, before Sam Purvis and Jamie Chipman hit back for Tigers as they built a 14-10 half-time lead.

Robbie Keith makes ground for Tigers.

Braam Gerber put the Tigers further in front with a try after the break, while fly half Robbie Keith’s accuracy was crucial as he added three conversions and a penalty for the victors.

“Winning does become a habit and we’re grinding out these games at the moment. I’m just looking forward to the time when we click and get everything right,” Tigers’ coach Sam Hocking said.

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Elsewhere, Valley made short work of Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC, winning 43-10, while Bloomberg HK Scottish thrashed Kowloon 49-21.

In the KPMG Women’s Premiership, Kowloon defeated City Sparkle 20-0, Tai Po saw off CWB Phoenix 22-5, Gai Wu defeated Tigers 22-8 and Valley got up 27-17 over HKFC.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Spitz feeds off winning habit as Tigers march on
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