CONSISTENCY KEY FOR HONG KONG FOOTBALL CLUB AHEAD OF VALLEY CLASH

14th Dec 2017

Natixis HKFC will host Societe General Valley in a fight to share top spot on the table in Saturday’s Old Mutual International Men’s Premiership game of the week clash at 4.30pm at HKFC. Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers will be making their own bid for a share of top of the table status when they travel to Bloomberg HK Scottish for a 3.00pm kick-off.

With eight players out due to injury or suspension, Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC have been forced to concede their match against Kowloon after not being able to muster sufficient front row forwards for the contest.

A 70-point shellacking of HKCC last weekend has left Football Club brimming with a confidence that coach Phil Bailey hopes will hold them in good stead against five-time Grand Champions Valley.

“We played really well [against HKCC], we finally clicked and the most impressive thing is that we played for 80 minutes, we didn’t take our foot off the pedal which is usually the easy thing to do. The bench came on and did really well also, which is very impressive,” said Bailey.

“It’s just confidence now and we are coming in with a bit of form. We have been working hard for nearly two years to get that continuity and to get everyone playing the same way and working hard for each other and it is starting to bear a bit of fruit.

“But it’s not the finished product and Valley will be a big test.”

Hong Kong’s under 19s take on Sri Lanka at the same ground at 18.30, meaning that HKFC will be without young fliers Henry Poon, Liam Hebert, Max Denmark and Jack Abbott, with Bailey expecting his side to miss the enthusiasm they bring to the team.

Veteran Jamie Hood will also miss out with a groin issue, while Michael Coverdale is another of the players currently resting on instruction from national coaches ahead of a packed 2018 schedule.

For Bailey, a win over Valley would make Christmas that extra bit enjoyable.

“That would be the best thing, we have done well and after that win last week our for-and-against [points difference] is pretty healthy, but we have to win with a bonus point to draw level with Valley.”

“It just means we are consistent, that’s the biggest thing. That’s the big message going into this game, for us to take the next step we need to consistently put in good performances, not one on, one off.”

Tigers will be looking to return to the winners list immediately after having their five-match unbeaten streak snapped by Kowloon as they face a Scottish side that has been inconsistent in recent weeks.

In the Old Mutual International Championship, HKFC Scorpions welcome RB-SRK Tin Shui Wai RFC (Sat. 13:30), aiming to retain the Old Mutual International Championship Challenge Cup for a third successive game.

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