A week’s break allowed the cuts, bruises and bumps of the previous matches to heal and made the HKCC Ladies even keener to play at their home ground Aberdeen against the Causeway Bay Pheasants in the 6th Round of the League.
The whistle blew and HKCC kicked off giving possession to the waiting Pheasants who immediately began to pound their way up the pitch. HKCC scrapped for the ball but the Pheasants furiously rucked maintaining possession and skillfully controlling the course of play. During the first ten minutes HKCC only handled the ball once and this was to kick off again after the Pheasants broke round the side of the defence and scored the first try of the match, 5-0.
Determined to take ownership of the game HKCC kicked off and instantly pressured the Pheasant’s defence. The two teams collided up and down the pitch but neither side looked set to score a try until a close opportunity came for HKCC’s number 8, Lynda Nazer. Awarded a scrum in the Pheasants’ 22 Nazer picked the ball up and pummeled her way up the pitch. But much to HKCC’s frustrations, Nazer, a footstep from the try line was barged into touch. Gaining the ball back the Pheasants kicked to clear their lines, putting HKCC’s fullback and winger under pressure, who only just managed to keep the Pheasant’s attack at bay.
The match continued with the two teams fighting for possession and precious ground. Foul play from HKCC led to a penalty that helped the Pheasants creep further up the pitch. Within minutes HKCC gave away another penalty this time in a threatening position, 5m from the try line. The Pheasants opted for a kick at goal, the ball sailed through the posts, padding CWB’s lead; 8-0.
The first half was drawing to a close but not before HKCC had one more stab at the Pheasant’s defence. Dominated by the HKCC forwards a maul formed and with gaining momentum they thundered towards the try line. With a few metres to go, quick as a flash HKCC’s Carolyn Champion broke from the maul with ball in hand. Once again HKCC were a footstep from the try line, but this time it was Champion who was mercilessly tackled into touch by a strong Pheasant defence. The score remained 8-0 to Pheasants and the whistle blew for half time.
After some rallying words from coach Alex Tarleton the whistle blew for the start of the second half. The Pheasants booted the ball straight into the arms of HKCC scrumhalf Emma Chung, who charged up the pitch. After some clashes in the center of the field a quick Pheasant turn over saw their attack bursting through HKCC defence. Weaving around the HKCC fullback the Pheasants looked close to scoring until Chung made a last ditch tackle, halting the attack. The Pheasants reset to strike again and this time succeeded, as their winger zipped round the side of the HKCC defence, 13-0.
HKCC kicked off and again the two sides fought to control the game. A great breakthrough came from HKCC’s centre Lucy Thomson, who hurtled through the Pheasant defence. But foul play by HKCC at the ruck gave the Pheasants a penalty and they wasted no time in using it to their advantage. HKCC were pushed back to their own try line fighting off another Pheasant attack. Nothing could stop the two Pheasant forwards who crashed over the try line for their third try of the match.
HKCC knew time was running out and they were determined to get some well-deserved points on the board. The HKCC forwards moved up together recycling the ball well until they were only meters from the try line. The Pheasants absorbed the hits well but they were unable to stop outside centre Tissia Polycarpe thundering over the try line, scoring the first and last HKCC points of the match.
After what seemed like a long and tiresome second half the whistle blew to end the match. Although a loss for the HKCC Ladies they are improving every week and look forward to their next match against Tigers this Saturday.
HKCC Woman of the Match: Emma Chung
HKCC 5-18 CWB Pheasants
HKCC Ladies: Joan Yip, Wawa Li, Jo Harvey, Lauren Petersen, Nobuko Oda, Brenda Chan, Cheryl Gourley, Lynda Nazer, Emma Chung, Tinley Wong, Serene Yee, Carolyn Champion, Tissia Polycarpe, Angie Ng, Steph Zhang
Substitutes: Lucy Thomson, Kassie Chapel, Charlotte Berry, Hoi Yi Li, Elane Lau, Mhairi McLoughlin.
Try: Tissia Polycarpe
Photo: Phoebe Leung