Rugby Weekly Update
Well it has been a great sporting weekend for Breakthrough. It all started on Friday with our Sports Forum, which got some reasonable coverage in the SCMP today, thanks mainly to the attendance of Laureus and their ambassadors Ed Moses and Marvellous Marvin Hagler. There were some very senior Government officials present along with some senior Police Officers, who were no doubt interested in what Breakthrough is all about in these times when the Government is thinking about what HK needs to do for young people. I think we would all agree that there is a place in there somewhere for sport and the values it teaches.
In the evening we held a boxing dinner and Marvellous Hagler and Ed Moses were again the guests of honour. The only disappointment on what was a fantastic evening was that Sures lost his third professional fight. He fought well in an entertaining bout and although I am hardly the appropriate one to say such things he didn’t seem as fit as he has in the past.
On to the rugby today. We started with the U19s in their cup final against Kowloon, who had beaten us earlier in the season in our league game and with last week’s shocker hanging over us things weren’t expected to go well. However the boys were mentally all there today and obviously keen to win. Lions started quickly and despite a lot of pressure from the Lions our boys tackled well and fought hard to keep them out. We still gave away too many penalties but showed real character in absorbing their pressure. We broke away twice very quickly and scored two good tries and began to dominate the game. Along with another try after some sustained forward pressure, we found ourselves a well-deserved 17 – 0 up at half time.
In the second half we continued to dominate the game but Lions managed a couple of tries after creating some good space out wide. In between we scored another of our own, so with 5 minutes s to go we were leading 22 – 10. Unfortunately the lads got a bit cocky and undisciplined and we picked up two yellow cards and let in another try right on the final whistle. However the 22 – 15 victory was a cracking performance. Below is the picture of the squad with their trophy.
It was then over to Happy Valley for the U16 final against HKFC 3. The boys showed a lot of spirit and never gave up, but we were outclassed and lost 61-7. Most of the boys showed a lot of courage and commitment, which was really commendable. Most of the boys are still in their first year of rugby and many are still available next year, so I am hopeful things will get better.
Next week sees lots of 7s action. We have teams involved in the following tournaments, all on Sunday 15 March:
Girls U16 Div 2 – Sandy Bay from 10 – 13hrs
Boys U19 Div 3 – U19 Team 2 at Causeway Bay 9.30 to 12.45pm
Boys U19 Div 2 – U19 Team 1 at Tai Hang Tung from 2 to 5.30pm
Boys U16 Div 3 – Kings Park from 2 to 5.30pm
Looking further ahead on Wednesday 18 March we have a U 19 game against a visiting Singapore school under the new floodlights at the Police Club, which I believe will be the first floodlit rugby match at the club. Kick Off is 7.30pm.
Hope to see some of you if you can make it.