The top three finishers in the KPMG Women’s Premiership all moved comfortably into the semi-final stage of the Grand Championships yesterday, as Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers took down SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay Phoenix 66-0 and ECO Gai Wu Falcons swept City Sparkle 84-0, while Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies progressed by default after Kowloon Ladies were unable to field a team.

In the other quarter-final, KPMG Women's Premiership Development top finishers Transact 24 Tai Po Dragons dramatically fought back to a 25-19 win over top-four Natixis HKFC Ice, from 19-0 down at half time.

The results set up a pair of juicy semi-finals on 3 March, when three-time Grand Champions Valley take on a hungry Tigers side,while Gai Wu will look to remind Tai Po why they are this season’s top performers.

In the fourth-versus-fifth tussle, HKFC controlled the first half, with pace and momentum that produced tries for winger Sheung Yee Siu, inside centre Rachel Crothers and New Zealander Sam Tipene, plus a couple of conversions off the boot of Rachel Fong.

But a rejuvenated Tai Po side emerged after half time, seemingly buoyed by a call from coach Tsang Hing Hung to tighten the defence and focus on the contact area. The opposition’s loss of Crothers and captain Bobby Wilson to ankle knocks likely helpedtheir cause.

A watertightTai Po defence through the half was the foundation forthe five-try comeback, starting with a 25-metre driving maul, the ball in the hands of Fan Ying Tung, after five minutes, and a similar move ten minutes later. Then, with HKFC pegged back in their own 22, Poon Hoi Yan showed great individual skill to break the defensive line and narrow the deficit to 19-15.Into the final quarterand good phase play and a fast response at the breakdown got the ball to captain Lo Ching Wa in the channel, foranother try and aone-point lead. In the closing minute, Poon sealed the deal, skilfully finding the lineafter a pressing maul and switch back to open play.

Coach Tsang was understandably delighted, having brought his team back into the Premiership with the serious expectation that they would become contenders among the league’s best. He put the result down to teamwork and belief, and offered especial praise to his forwards who “did a really good job, winning in the breakdown and making the running effort.”

“We knew that we and Football Club were really close, and that we could win if we got it right. So we’ve been working hard in preparation for this game,” said Tsang.

With the prospect of Gai Wu in the semi-final, Tsang is sanguine but upbeat.

“In the semi, we will try our best, aiming to give a good performance and provide a good game for spectators. We will work for a miracle.The team have done really well, and we will try to go further, but a next win would be a bonus for sure,” he said.