Brigadier Sykes took command of the crack U11 squad (HK U12) for this weekend in Hong Kong and, as ever, the mission was to come home with the silverware..... and come home with the silverware they did, in some style beating Valley Fort, DEA Tigers and Hong Kong Football Club in this Guinness Record event (largest ever mini-rugby tournament) in the process. A hugely enjoyable day and a very well hosted event and our thanks go to all who made it possible ..............
Day One
Highlights recorded contemporaneously below:
Our first game against HKFC3 saw us kick off and quickly gain ground. We won their ball from a scrum near their line for George to put Hugo in in the corner.
Second try this time for Bradley came again from winning their scrum near their line.
Two nil the final score in a game that seemed shorter than 12 minutes.
DB Pirates 2 for second game and from scrappy play Wes picked up and ran round the outside of the wholE DB side for 1 nil
Rampaging Carter and then Josh took it to their line. George held up. Good clean ball from the dominant pack, nice hands Josh to George and out to Graham for 2 nil.
Graham collected a kick and ran it straight back. Ball to Carter who ran on and out to Bradley for 3 Nil
4 nil swiftly followed as Josh saw a gap created by Matthew C being outside and ran through to score and finish the game.
And so to the quarter final against Valley Fort. Nerves jangling hence not much reporting, while George injured early. Max who captained throughout took over at scrum half, with Bradley moving to centre and Wes to fly half . Suffice to say a Finn try in the last minute off a Phil secured a well deserved victory with VF rarely threatening. Sean and the two Tom's helped ensure we controlled the breakdown, and had the momentum, as they and Aiden and Oliver did throughout the day.
Our first game against HKFC3 saw us kick off and quickly gain ground. We won their ball from a scrum near their line for George to put Hugo in in the corner.
Second try this time for Bradley came again from winning their scrum near their line.
Two nil the final score in a game that seemed shorter than 12 minutes.
DB Pirates 2 for second game and from scrappy play Wes picked up and ran round the outside of the wholE DB side for 1 nil
Rampaging Carter and then Josh took it to their line. George held up. Good clean ball from the dominant pack, nice hands Josh to George and out to Graham for 2 nil.
Graham collected a kick and ran it straight back. Ball to Carter who ran on and out to Bradley for 3 Nil
4 nil swiftly followed as Josh saw a gap created by Matthew C being outside and ran through to score and finish the game.
And so to the quarter final against Valley Fort. Nerves jangling hence not much reporting, while George injured early. Max who captained throughout took over at scrum half, with Bradley moving to centre and Wes to fly half . Suffice to say a Finn try in the last minute off a Phil secured a well deserved victory with VF rarely threatening. Sean and the two Tom's helped ensure we controlled the breakdown, and had the momentum, as they and Aiden and Oliver did throughout the day.
Queue delight from the boys at beating the team which had beaten us at the same stage of last year's Polo Club competition. Brigadier Sykes was having none of it and quickly brought them back into focus with a reminder that "you have not won anything yet!!"
Semi Final v DEA Tigers similarly tight Josh over early and thereafter fierce competition with all the boys contributing fully. By this time George and Finn both walking wounded.
We held strong.
The comment of the day came, while we were changing beneath the stands in the groundsman's area amongst carious bits of machinery, inevitably from Finn:
Day Two
Semi Final v DEA Tigers similarly tight Josh over early and thereafter fierce competition with all the boys contributing fully. By this time George and Finn both walking wounded.
We held strong.
One Nil the final score
Final vs Hong Kong Football Club Finn back after fitness test that involved knocking Brig Sykes backwards into Mike Emerson.
For the first time in the day we went 1 nil down. Boys then took the ball forward well and controlled the rest of the game and from a maul Carter took the ball to equalise.
A second try, after half time, followed from Josh but again everyone contributed with some very strong offensive defence and great forward play. Finally the ball was kicked to touch, after the hooter had sounded to much jubilation..... Brigadier Sykes included, though as a treble awaits expect more Fergie type comment in the next few weeks..................
Final vs Hong Kong Football Club Finn back after fitness test that involved knocking Brig Sykes backwards into Mike Emerson.
For the first time in the day we went 1 nil down. Boys then took the ball forward well and controlled the rest of the game and from a maul Carter took the ball to equalise.
A second try, after half time, followed from Josh but again everyone contributed with some very strong offensive defence and great forward play. Finally the ball was kicked to touch, after the hooter had sounded to much jubilation..... Brigadier Sykes included, though as a treble awaits expect more Fergie type comment in the next few weeks..................
For the record the squad for the tournament was : Tom M, Sean, Tom W, Oliver, Carter, Josh, Aiden, Finn, George, Max, Wes, Hugo, Bradley, Matthew C and Graham who looked well at home at full back.
Hamish, Julian and Daniel performed with distinction in an Royal Selangor squad that also made the quarter finals.
The Cup was collected from Gavin Hastings and beer was consumed by all - champagne only at the Polo club.....
The comment of the day came, while we were changing beneath the stands in the groundsman's area amongst carious bits of machinery, inevitably from Finn:
"Phil do you wax or something?"
There was another rugby match in the evening, which Australia won with a late try, but the important stuff had already happened by then...............
Day Two
A Festival of rugby at Discovery Bay, where again we were made very welcome, blogging less comprehensive. Suffice to say with a full squad the boys distinguished themselves again with a
4 - 0 final victory over Discover Bay and some really fluent rugby.
The only downsides to the day were that George's injury from yesterday prevented him playing and a typically huge tackle from Finn ended up with a dislocated shoulder that saw him taken to hospital.
Absent injuries though the weekend though could hardly have been a greater success but we should expect a strong response from Hong Kong teams at the Polo Club, where, as ever. champagne tantalisingly awaits......................
The only downsides to the day were that George's injury from yesterday prevented him playing and a typically huge tackle from Finn ended up with a dislocated shoulder that saw him taken to hospital.
Absent injuries though the weekend though could hardly have been a greater success but we should expect a strong response from Hong Kong teams at the Polo Club, where, as ever. champagne tantalisingly awaits......................
