NAN FUNG GROUP | AIRSIDE HONG KONG PREMIERSHIP: ROUND 10 REVIEW

Round 10 of the 2025/26 Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Hong Kong Premiership was a humdinger with some closely fought contests and shocks at the top with the log leaders Valley RFC Women and Men both defeated - a first loss for the runaway table-toppers Valley Women, and the Kowloon Women also grabbed their first win of the campaign.

The Women’s and Men’s Prem tables stayed the same at the summit with the Societe Generale Valley RFC sides leading, but the gaps to the teams chasing them have closed.

Women’s Premiership

Causeway Sandy Bay 36-41 Kowloon Rugby Club

The highest scoring fixture in Round 10 for the Women, Kowloon pipped Causeway Bay in another weekend upset, as it was Kowloon’s first win of the season.

The visitors had led 7-0 after the first quarter, but the hosts levelled it up after 22 minutes. In a tit-for-tat try fest, first Kowloon retook the lead with an unconverted score, but Causeway Sandy Bay struck back with 7 points of their own to lead for the first time and maintained the 14-12 gap at the half.

There were 51 points scored in the second period! First, the hosts extended the lead to 21-12, and Kowloon responded with an unconverted try of their own, all within the opening seven minutes. Causeway Sandy Bay extended the lead to 31-17 with only twenty minutes remaining.

Kowloon scored again in the 64th minute, but Causeway Sandy Bay responded within minutes and looked to have locked it up with a 36-22 lead and only ten minutes in the match left. 

However, first, Sabay Lynam practically from the restart dotted down in the corner, and then second row, Samantha Spence, added another in the 75th minute to narrow the lead to 36-34. 

Another Hong Kong China 7s player, Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, completed the comeback win in the 78th minute with a try down the left-hand side - amazing scenes.

Clement Shield/VetiVa Gai Wu Falcons 15-12 Societe Generale Valley RFC

The shock of the round saw the Clement Shield/VetiVa Gai Wu Falcons inflict a season-first loss on Societe Generale Valley RFC. 

Valley RFC had scored first in the opening quarter through Zoe Smith before Gai Wu scrum-half Au King To tied them up, making the most of a loose ball and hacking it up field to win the foot race and score under the posts, complemented by a successful conversion. Just past the half-hour mark, they scored a second try via Rossetti Tsang Hoi Laam and led 12-5 by the break.

A tight second half saw the hosts add the sole penalty while Valley scored a converted try in the 68th minute via their pack following good tight phase play, but it wasn't enough as Gai Wu held on for a fantastic win, which sees them in 3rd on the table.

Kroll USRC Tigers Women 25-10 HKFC Natixis Ice

HKFC Natixis Ice opened the scoring after the first quarter with right wing Caitlin Morrell scoring on the left-hand side to lead 5-0. Stella Lam replied with a try from the hosts after the half-hour mark, and the sides went into the break with it level 5-5.

Vivian Poon gave Tigers the lead with the side’s second try five minutes into the second half, but HKFC came back with a try off an attacking lineout for Saracens-signed Roshini Turner within five minutes to make it 10-10.

Stella Lam, with a monstrous run taking defenders with her, secured her second try to put the Tigers back in front just before the hour mark. Shortly after, Vivian Poon ran in her second try before Stella Lam secured her hattrick in the final stages of the game with another brilliant solo effort. 

The 25-10 win moves Kroll USRC Tigers Women to within four points of the log leaders.

This weekend is HKFC’s Annual Club Day on Saturday 24 January, as they host Causeway Sandy Bay with just 5 regular season rounds remaining.

Men’s Premiership

HKFC Natixis Club 21-15 Kroll USRC Tigers RFC

The Tigers led 3-0 after 20 minutes in another closely fought contest this round. One of the star players for HKFC this season, Quintony Ngatai, added a full complement of 7 points in the 34th minute, but a driving lineout maul from the Tigers saw them retake the lead 8-7 within minutes, which is how it stayed at the break.

Straight after the half, the Tigers added a second driving maul lineout try to extend the lead to 15-7.

HKFC struck back with a brace of tries through Madison Hunting in the 65th and 78th minutes, and Ngatai added both conversions to win the contest.

The victory for HKFC and the loss for Valley means HKFC Natixis Club are only two log points behind the leaders.

HKU Sandy Bay RFC 27-33 Kowloon Rugby Club

Kowloon returned to winning ways after their loss to HKFC last week, compounding the defending champions' issues, who leaked 63 in last week’s loss, and were dispatched 27-33 at King’s Park.

Former GB 7s winger James Pavey opened the scoring for Kowloon, and then each side exchanged successful penalties, keeping the score tight. Another Kowloon penalty and a converted Sandy Bay try made it 11-10 to Kowloon after a quarter of the game. Dewald Naude put the hosts in front for the first time with a try in the 28th minute, and Kowloon added a third penalty of the half to trail 17-14 at the halftime hooter.

A sublime start to the second half from Kowloon saw them add 19 points – tries from Harry Sutherland, Vincent O’Brien and a second for James Pavey got the job done, despite a late surge from Sandy Bay.

Kowloon’s win keeps them within two points of HKFC, who are in second place on the table.

Societe Generale Valley RFC 24-30 Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish

Valley RFC had been leading 12-10 at halftime over bottom-placed Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish - they scored two tries in the opening period with Chad Solomon (Societe Generale Valley RFC) getting both tries off the back of a maul. 

Despite their league standing, HK Scottish had been narrow losers several times this season, and they showed their fight once again. 

In the second half, they turned around the deficit and ran out 30-24 winners with one of the upsets of the round. Three tries in the second half, including scores from Thomas Wilson and Rory Drummond, saw them outscore Valley 3 tries to 2 in the second period, with the hosts, Max Woodward and Huw Alexander, getting on the scoreboard in the loss.

The win for Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish saw them climb off the foot of the table for the first time this season.

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