As the KPMG Women’s Premiershipsplit into two tight four-team units for the second half of the season, league champions Societe Generale Valley were forced to adapt to overcome an improvingEco Gai Wu Falcons side, 21-14, matched try for tryby their long-time rivals.

All sides crossed the line yesterday, for the first time this season, with Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigerssecuring top spot in the restartedKPMG Women’s Premiership table thanks to a48-5victory overNatixis HKFC Ice, asignificantly better margin than two weeks back. Kowloon Ladies maintained their recent strong form, and head up the new KPMG Women’s Premiership Development after a 41-15 win over SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay. Transact 24 Tai Po Dragons took out their game against Comvita City Sparkle, 15-5.

In the Game of the Week, the absence of key players on both sides offered a chance for depth and team character to shine. Valley began with an impressive display of consistency and pressure as they camped on Falcons’ 22through much of the first half, winning scrums and turnovers to keep the ball and control the game. As last time out, it was player-coach Bella Milo who took first blood, seizing on a kicked ball to put down on the left-hand side after 15 minutes.Regular kicker Zoe Smith’s successful conversion from close to the sideline was a taste of things to come.

In reply, Gai Wu, in a rare first-half foray into Valley territory, recently signed New Zealander Greer Muirbroke through the Valley siege, and fended off a number of defenders on a 70-metre run to the far line, to set up a score-levelling conversion by talismanLee Tsz Ting.

Valley secured a second reward for their efforts on the half-hour when a cross-field kick fromteenager Kelsie Boutle was deftly kept from going out of play by Stefanie Cuvelier, forseason-newcomer Jade Birkby to pick up and go over. That 12-7 scoreline was how it stood at half time.

Gai Wu came out in an attacking frame of mind and visibly took the momentum, controlling the pace of the game for periods. But a series of unforced errors meant that solid approaches to the Valley line ended up conceding possession.

At the other end, a resolute Gai Wu defence successfully defended its line but was undone on 13 minutes whenaValley penalty 30 metres out wasimpressively converted by Smithto post the first points of the half.

Ten minutes later, Gai Wu’s fightback bore fruit as Pun Wai Yan did manage to break the Valley line and elegantlyshimmy her way through to score just left of the posts. Suddenly, with Lee’sconversion, it was a one-point game – 15-14.

But Gai Wu’s promise was ultimately neutralised in the closing minutes when Valley astutely opted to kick for goal from two further penalties, which Smith took full advantage of on a day she deserves to remember.

Milo was pleased with her team’s first-half performance but saw the weaknesses that allowed Gai Wu to come on strong in the second half.

“We started well, unlike last game. We kept hold of the ball and didn’t make too many mistakes, and that enabled us to maintain the pressure.Once again, our front five put their hands up and showed their commitment to the team. But we didn’t hunt at the breakdown enough, leaving Gai Wu space to play a lot of fast ball that we couldn’t defend. Then our own line speed was not good enough, which allowed them to press us,” she said.

However, in witness to Valley’s staying power, Milo highlighted the way the team reacted when the game was in danger of slipping away.

“Obviously it was a tight game. Their defensive policy was good and that forced us to adjust the way we played.We had to be a little bit smarter, taking the points when there was an opportunity,” sheexplained.

Milo had lavish praise for her kicker Smith and was also pleased with debutant starter and scorer Birkby.

“Zoe was on point tonight with her kicking, just when we needed it, and I thought Jade carried well and chased well throughout the game, as well as taking the try,” she said.

For Gai Wu coach Lai Yiu Pang, giving Valley their toughest game of the season was not enough.

“In the second half, we had momentum but made silly mistakes and couldn’t capitalise on it. We controlled the rhythm but our executionwas poor, making unforcederrors in the final third,” he said.

“If we set a higher standard for ourselves we could definitely have won this game. It’s down to us how much we want to win. It’s the same against Tigers and Football Club – when we really want it, we can beat them, but if we’re not all there, they will take us down.”

Lai credited his bench players with making the game as tight as it was.

“Pun Wai Yan and Lam Ka Wai both did well when they came on for the second half. They were determined and provided the impact we needed. But we can’t rely on just them. Everyone has to show that same spirit,” he said.

Ultimately, Lai rued the penalties given away, without which his team might have scored a first defeat in three seasons for Valley.

“They deserved the win because they capitalised on our mistakes,” he concluded.

In other local women’s rugby, teams in KPMG National Leagues 1 and 2 are upping their game to vie for the new silverware on offer weekly. Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers 2 comprehensively defended their KPMG National League 1 Challenge Shield, with a 49-0 win over Transact24 Tai Po Dragons 2. Likewise, SCAA First Pacific CWB Lammergeier retain the KPMG National League 2 Challenge Shield for a second week after overcoming Natixis HKFC Fire 17-0.