Tag: 2016-17

Match Report: Uni-Pirates 5-35 City – 1 October, 2016

A new and as yet unnamed DB Pirates & University combined team for 2016-17
A new and as yet unnamed DB Pirates & University combined team for 2016-17

A new and as yet unnamed team took the field at the weekend as the combined forces of the University Unicorns and the DB Pirates faced their first challenge of the new season on a warm sunny Saturday afternoon at Sandy Bay. The Uni-Pirates squad consists mainly of players from the Summer Elementary Course, many of whom first picked up a rugby ball as recently as June, and a few veterans from the DB pirate enclave.

The home team kicked-off their National League 2 game against an experienced City Ladies team in high spirits and backed by the cheers of home crowd. Stout defence blunted the City attack and and the Uni-Pirates earned their first offensive scrum. And here’s where City’s experience told, you can practice and practice scrums on the training field but a match scrum is a vastly different beast and the Uni-Pirates conceded a penalty. Quickly taken by the visitors who passed it along their back line for the first try of the match.

Buoyed by the score City Ladies took control of the game, enthusiastic defending by the Uni-Pirates however kept them from adding to the scoreboard. The home town ladies though did not learn their lesson from the first try and conceded another as City successfully took advantage of another quickly taken penalty. The Ladies then added two more tries before the half time.

After the break, City remained on the front foot scoring two quick tries with some excellent back line moves. The plucky Uni-Pirates weren’t disheartened and kept plugging away looking for an opening and confidently seized their chance when it appeared. Awarded an offensive scrum on the City ten metre line the pack secured the ball and scrum-half Estelle Barbaroux sneaked through on the blind side, broke a couple of tackles and scored a fine try under the posts. A happy moment for the home crowd and the new team as they celebrated their first try of the season.

Despite the home team try, City were in complete control of the game and scored a seventh try before the final whistle for a final score of 35-5.

The crowd were generous in their applause of the players, congratulating the far more experienced City victors and celebrating the Uni-Pirates first game of 15s and their debut in the league.

Forwards:
Amoy Hugh-Pennie, Kon Chan, Meg McGrath, Monica Ariwi, Chona San Lopez-Aguila Alcantara, Florence Li, Catherine Greg Osburn, Debby Cheung, Jackie Philbrick Douglas, Renee McCreadie, Julie Buddle

Backs:
Sienna Stubbs, Estelle Barbaroux (Captain), Bonbon Jan, Hiuyi Cheng, Karen Shahar Gafni, Celine Malunes, Mandy Smith, Joyce Leung, Lai Ka Yan

Tries:
Estelle Barbaroux

Match Report: HKCC Ladies 10-19 Valley Reds – 1 October, 2016

hkcc-2016-10-04

The weekend’s fixture was the first match of the season for the HKCC Ladies who entered the new campaign with no pre-season games and a couple of new members playing with the team for the first time. Not the best preparation, but that didn’t prevent HKCC putting up a spirited display against Valley Red.

The match started with HKCC kicking off, and forming a great defence against the Reds causing them to knock the ball out over the sideline. As both teams struggled for meaningful possession a line break from Valley into HKCC’s 20 was stopped by flanker Maddy Witt. In the ensuing maul Valley slipped through a gap in the reforming defence to score the first try of the game.

This early setback energised HKCC who probed deep into Valley’s territory. The pressure told as Valley knocked on. From the resulting scrum the ball reached HKCC’s new fly-half Josie Jolley who, driving at the Valley’s defence gained some hard fought yards. Disaster struck though, a step from the try line as HKCC knocked on… At the resulting scrum HKCC packed away their disappointment, recomposed themselves and won the scrum leading to a nice try from Mandy Witt.

The remainder of the first half saw many big tackles, great attacks and defence from both teams, rolling into half time with the score 5-5.

The intensity increased after the break and Valley scored their second try through a gap in HKCC’s defence. HKCC bounced back with some great gain line attacks which saw the Reds commit numerous fouls, giving HKCC several penalty opportunities. The fierce commitment of both teams saw the referee issue several yellow cards during the half. HKCC got the better hand of that advantage and the ensuing penalties, allowing them to work as a team to attack deep into the Red’s territory and score a try from inside center Carolyn Champion. An unsuccessful conversion, left HKCC trailing 12-10 late in the last quarter.

Valley took advantage of a lack of concentration from HKCC scoring a try from a ruck straight after the kick-off. The conversion soared between the posts, giving Valley a 19-10 lead. HKCC pushed hard looking for a third score to give Valley a nervous last few minutes, but committed a couple of fouls and Valley edged a hard fought match.

Forwards:
Wawa Li, HoiYi Li, Terri Lau, Allison Mak, Kiki Kemp, Nobuko Oda, Lauren Petersen, Kon Chan, Joanna Harvey, Mhairi McLaughlin, Katie Rowbot, Maddy Witt, Josie Jolley

Backs:
Lynda Nazer, Stephanie Zhang, Brenda Chan, Carolyn Champion, Serene Yee, Margaret Chan

Tries:
Maddy Witt, Carolyn Champion