The Hong Kong Rugby Union’s 68^th season got underway with a Season Opener that saw all six Saxo Markets Premiership sides in action for the first time in 274 days.  Given the difficult pre-season with preparation times halved, many predicted a wide open slate of games with perhaps the odd upset - instead, the clubs struggled to navigate each other and the new laws at the breakdown as Hong Kong rugby shook off some accumulated rust.

DAC Kowloon came closest to knocking over higher fancied competition, but could not convert a prime late chance against Societe Generale Valley as they fell 20-13. In the earlier contests, Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay beat Bloomberg HK Scottish 29-15, while Natixis HKFC pulled away late to beat Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers 33-13. 

Scottish and Sandy Bay engaged in a cagey battle with one point separating the sides at the break as Sandy Bay led 9-8.  Fullback Jack Metters notched the first points of the season after three minutes, converting the first of three opening half penalties for Sandy Bay. Scottish fly half Gregor McNeish levelled the scores soon after with his first pot at goal.

After Metters poked Sandy Bay ahead with his second shot from the tee, Scottish replied with the season’s first try scored by new signing Sal M’Boge, who finished a sustained patch of pressure late in the half - unlocking a stiff Sandy Bay defence after more than a dozen phases.  M’Boge’s try looked like a momentum builder shortly before half, but Sandy Bay replied on the next possession as Scottish conceded another penalty in Metters’ range. His kick gave Sandy Bay back the lead at halftime, 9-8. 

In the second half, Sandy Bay were gifted two more early penalties, with Metters converting the one in kickable position to push the score to 12-8. Minutes later they produced the first of two splash plays that proved the difference, with a lovely intercept try from scrumhalf Liam Slam who flashed 60 metres for Sandy Bay’s first five pointer of the campaign and a 19-8 lead. Centre and fellow Hong Kong cap Alex McQueen widened the gap ten minutes later after an enterprising chase of an aimless kick ahead to score. McQueen’s try brought the score to 26-8 in the final quarter. Scottish had plenty of chances late but missed their opportunity to add respectability to the score line, frustrating the Shek Kip Mei side, which was plagued by indiscipline this afternoon.

Sandy Bay coach Brett Wilkinson was relieved to sneak the win, but realistic about the work ahead:  “Our main focus was that we needed to get that win, and we did that. We were rusty at times and made lot of mistakes, but we also did a lot of things right. The way we defended long phases was a plus. That takes a lot of hard work and was good to see. We have been building that this preseason and its something we needed to tighten up from last year,” he said.

USRC Tigers opened against reigning league and grand champions HKFC in perhaps the most challenging tie of the opening slate. In an entertaining and competitive first half, Tigers looked the stronger team, with a renewed energy coming from talismanic captain Josh Hrstic and an all-rounder effort out of new fly half Josh Henderson on his club debut. Tigers would keep high-flying Football Club grounded in the first half, as the home side trailed by a converted try 13-6 after forty minutes.

Picking up from his perfect performance in the grand final, Glyn Hughes did most of the damage for HKFC, notching two early penalties before missing a third from halfway on the stroke of halftime.

HKFC added a penalty try late in the half after Tigers prop Ian Etheridge was shown a yellow card, leading to a scrum beneath the posts that buckled. Club took the lead 13-3 but Henderson soon trimmed that to 13-6 with his second penalty.

The second half tipped the balance to HKFC, as Hughes found the mark again to start the second stanza, pushing the score to 16-6.  Tigers generated some solid chances but accuracy and discipline deserted them at key moments as they repeatedly gave possession back to a Club side growing in self-belief. Eventually, HKFC centre Ben Axten-Burrett crossed for a spectacular try, tiptoeing through traffic down the far touchline to score his first of the year, pushing the lead to 23-6.

Tigers were game to the end and redoubled their intensity. That pressure ultimately told as Hrstic transformed an abrasive carry with some pure silk - his nifty backhander finding a waiting Cado Lee Ka-to to score. Henderson’s conversion closed the lead to 23-13, but HKFC added a second penalty try from an intentional knock down on the try-line, while Hughes hit another shot to end 33-13.

Despite the result, Tigers were the buzz of the sidelines. The return of Hrstic from a lengthy injury motivated the entire group, while Henderson showed capability in all phases in his debut. That, and the availability of Hong Kong sevens stars Tyler Spitz, Chris Maize and Lee have Tigers turning heads.

HKFC coach Jack Wiggins agreed: “Tigers are obviously better than they were last year, so it is good to get that first game and the win. It was an important victory. There was a lot of pressure on us. It wasn’t pretty, but we proved again we stick to the fight and we know how to finish games.”

The late game saw another top contender struggle as Valley left it till late to beat Kowloon, 20-13. New Kowloon 10 Harry Johnston set the pace early on, slotting two first half penalties, while his opposite number Matt Rosslee was successful with his only first half shot to keep Valley in contention.

Valley trailed 6-3 before Ruan DuPlooy, in his first season as co-captain, scored the game’s first try in the 36^th minute pushing Valley in front 10-6 at the half. Rosslee pushed the lead to 13-6 to start the second before they lost Theo Rolston to the sin bin, creating space out wide for the Kowloon attack. One of Hong Kong’s top finishers wasted little time in converting as Jack Neville scored Kowloon’s first try after 52 minutes. Johnston’s conversion pulled Kowloon level to set up a tense final quarter.

Kowloon let its guard down on the other end and were punished as centre Mitchell Purvis finished off a nice inside pass from new signing Peter Laverick to score, edging back in front 20-13.

The hosts had a prime chance to level late after an improbable offload from Sam Tsoi, (starting at no.8 after Kowloon lost James Sawyer to injury in the pre-season), surprised Henderson who couldn’t hold on to the ball.

Mark Fatiolofa, in his first game as head coach on his tenth season at Valley, was pleased to get the win but less so with how it came about. He credited his bench and the strong level of individual talent at the club with making the difference: “The bench came on and made an impact, really. We were lucky to get away with it. Kowloon was playing really well. They stood up and went after us. We couldn’t cope with the pressure and it was only a few splash plays that kept us in it.

“It’s up to us now to figure out what kind of men we are. If this continues we won’t be so lucky next time. With the league the way it is now, we are grateful to get that win, but if we play like that gain next week, we will be on the wrong side of the score.”

After the first of ten rounds this Premiership, Club, Valley and Sandy Bay are tied first with four points each, Kowloon is fourth with a bonus point for a loss within seven and Tigers and Scottish will be eyeing first points from next weekend’s clashes.