A decade of rugby (and of everything else) comes to a screaming conclusion this weekend for most rugby players across Hong Kong and, no doubt, they're all as keen as the mustard that will accompany the big fat ham at Aunt Doris's Christmas lunch on the 25th to end on a performance as furious as Uncle Warwick who’ll be trying to get some rest on the sofa after a big afternoon on the single malt.
Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay travel to Sports Roads to have a crack at Natixis HKFC who sit atop the Christmas tree with 27 league points in the Saxo Capital Markets Men’s Premiership. Trailing by seven points, the Bay would desperately love to spoil FC’s holiday mood by snatching a win before the break.
Flanker Dean Rossouw in full superman maode. Photo courtesy of HKRU
Head Coach Brett Wilkinson and his crew will bring a largely unchanged squad to this party. In the absence of devastating number 8, Luke van der Smit, will be Ben Davey who will relish his chance to start at the back and stake his claim for a more regular spot in the starting XV. Joining him with be the exact same pack from seven days prior, when Bay did a job on Kerry Hotel Kowloon at So Kon Po, 38-5. It has become a steady looking starting pack in recent weeks.
The backline is completely unchanged. They scored all five tries last week and have started to find some rhythm with the halves pairing of Liam Slatem and Nik Cumming, enjoying the game plan that Wilkinson and backs/attack coach Marno Meyer have passed down.
Leading Sandy Bay points scorer, Jack Metters. Photo courtesy of HKRU
HKFC will be a different kettle of fish than Kowloon though. Just one defeat in seven matches sees Jack Wiggins men deservedly at the top of the log with last weeks 67-7 slaughter of embattled USRC Tigers sending a warning shot to the following pack of teams. However, for patches, the footy club are definitely vulnerable and they’ve had to grind out some tough matches in this highly competitive premiership competition.
HKFC had had the better of the Bay this season with wins in the Challenge Trophy (50-19) and the first round of the Premiership (28-15) but the Bay have been on the improve with four wins from their past four outings.
Mark Prior and Zac Cinnamond play rugby. Photo courtesy of HKRU
Wilkinson has vowed to punish the Sportsman’s Bar if his Bay side can topple the home team and if he can get his hands on Thierry’s card. No doubt his trusty deputies, and this author, will be on hand to assist in that noble crusade.
The Vikings too, face a big challenge at the Club with a much-awaited rematch against the HKFC Dragons immediately following the Premiership match.
A double header with the Prem and Prem A leaders is a mouth-watering prospect ahead of Christmas, so get along and support our men tomorrow.
#UTB!
Full matches:
1:30PM Raiders vs Tai Po Dragons at Kowloon Tsai Park
4:45PM Prems vs HKFC at HKFC
6:20pm Vikings vs HKFC Dragons at HKFC
6:00pm Storm vs Revolution at Happy Valley