Societe Generale Valley beat Bloomberg HK Scottish, 35-19, to keep their league title hopes alive with three rounds remaining in the Saxo Markets Premiership. The bonus point win keeps Valley in contention with defending league champions Natixis HKFC who are threatening to repeat after beating Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers 67-7 at Kings Park, while Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay captured a crucial bonus point with a 37-5 win over Kerry Hotel Kowloon.

Today’s loss puts Scottish under pressure ahead of a final swing of games with the teams nearest to them on the table: Kowloon, Sandy Bay and Tigers - giving Scottish a slim opportunity to close out a place in the grand championship play-offs.  

But closing out things proved tough today for Scottish after they dominated Valley for most of the first half, battling to a 12-14 half-time deficit despite creating more chances.

Scottish were left ruing those missed opportunities, with Gregor McNeish struggling from the tee in windy conditions, missing two normally bankable penalty chances after Valley hooker Hunter Prescott had opened the scoring with a try in the corner in the sixth minute, with winger Kevin Field’s conversion giving the visitors a 7-0 lead.

It was all Scottish for the next half hour, with their attack gaining chunks on the Valley defence. Centre Mike Green and prop Fai Solomona were essential, with Solomona repeatedly denting Valley’s rush defence with his carries, while Green opened up the second level defence with some powerful runs and silky gear changes. Despite the repeated attacks Valley was able to muster enough rear-guard defence to hold off the Scottish threat on almost every occasion.

Green finally broke through in the 24th minute for a try - just reward for his North-South running this afternoon, as he sauntered across the line off a deft pass from scrumhalf Peter Jercevich; McNeish missed the conversion, however, leaving Scottish trailing 7-5.

Valley let Scottish off the hook from the re-start with an offside penalty letting the hosts clear their lines and resume the attack from inside Valley’s half. A good patch of support play worked the attack to Valley’s line with Jercevich holding on to the easy keeper for the try, giving Scottish their first lead, 12-7, after McNeish’s conversion.

The lead was short lived as Valley swung the balance of the game their way inside the final ten minutes of the half. Scrumhalf Ruan Duplooy nearly scored off a great solo run, after exploiting the smallest of seams along the side of the scrum for a 90-metre sprint up field before he was bundled into touch at the line. Captain Rob Lennox scored from the next Valley opportunity, using his lanky frame to good effect to reach across for the try, giving his side a 14-12 lead after Field’s kick.

Valley’s coaching staff were demonstrative at halftime, and that tone carried into their play in the second half as they turned the tables on Scottish to control the run of play down the stretch.  

Scottish’s first half accuracy deserted them at key moments as they gave up possession cheaply to start the half, handing more advantage to a Valley side that, sniffing a try in the offing, redoubled its pressure.

The score eventually came, finished by Field, who converted his tally to push the lead to 21-14. The lead grew to 28-14 minutes later when flanker Nyasha Tarusenga, scored his first for the club after arriving from the University of Cape Town at mid-season, with Field again converting.

The addition of Mark Coebergh and James Christie added positive energy to the Scottish attack, as they injected tempo and linked well with Green and fullback Sean Taylor. With the offence rejuvenated, Scottish drove into enemy territory to set up an attacking lineout chance that would eventually produce a try for prop Jack Parfitt, who bashed over from second phase.

McNeish’s conversion closed the gap to 28-19, offering Scottish a glimpse of hope for a losing bonus point that would have had table implications with Kowloon’s loss, but Valley closed ruthlessly with a late score to Peni Latu for the 35-19 win.

Scottish coach Craig Hammond was disappointed to come away with nothing from another hard fought affair saying, “It’s frustrating; it’s the same story as last week [ed. note: a 28-22 loss to HKFC], when Club scored with 20 minutes left and put us under pressure. It’s disappointing to come away with bugger all again, despite not being much in it.

“I can’t fault the effort or attitude of the guys, they are working hard, but we have to do the little things right in crucial moments. We scored some good tries, but we coughed up too much ball, and the teams we are playing are good on the counter and are scoring off of that.”

Hammond knows the next weeks are crucial if his side hopes to be playing in late January:

“We have three games left now, so it’s crunch time. The guys have absolutely got to take it on their shoulders. Next week is big with Kowloon coming in, then Tigers and Sandy Bay after that and none of them are easy matches.

“We are all in the same boat now. It’s tight and we have our backs against the wall next week at home. It’s another must win for us. We just need to be sure that we face these challenges, win in front of our home crowds and climb back up the table,” said Hammond.

Today’s result leave Natixis HKFC in first place on 27 points, followed by Valley on 25, with the two sides facing off in the final round of the season (18 January). Sandy Bay’s win gives them 20 points and a bit of a beachhead now on chasing Scottish, in fourth on 13 points, and Kowloon in fifth on 12 points. The final league round before Christmas will be played next week with action resuming on January 11.