Firsts 39 - 14 HKCC

A powerful performance by the forwards, spearheaded by new lock Sean Jennings, paved the way for Tradition Valley in their 39-14 win against Synovate HKCC in the Knockout Cup final at King's Park yesterday.

The victory was sealed by half-time when they led 25-9 thanks to tries from Jonny Elliott, Alex Baddeley and James Stokes. They added two more after the break through Lee Jones and Charles Brough, and skipper Justin Temara collected 14 points with his pin-point goal-kicking, knocking over two penalties and four conversions.

"This a great start to the season," said elated Valley coach Bryan Higgins. "Having won the Union 10s, the Valley 15s and now this tournament shows it didn't happen by fluke. Now for the league."

The five-try rout evoked memories of the glory days when Valley dominated the local scene. In those days they had players like the Dingley brothers - Jon and Paul - to power them in the forwards.

Yesterday it was the turn of one of their cousins, Jennings, to show the family's rugby pedigree runs deep. The South African, one of Valley's imports this season, was outstanding in the lineout as well as at re-starts and won his new team plenty of good ball which was put to good use by flyhalf Temara.

If the lineouts belonged to Valley, so did the scrums as their tight five - props Taiapa Tomlinson and John Hamilton, hooker Brent Taylor and locks Jennings and James Stokes - dominated with ease, pushing HKCC off their own ball time and again.

With the set-pieces under their control, it was left to Valley's tireless backrow of No 8 Baddeley and flankers Olly Robinson and Nick Hewson to add the icing as they reigned supreme at the breakdown.

"So much has been said of the HKCC backrow that our guys were determined to show what they are capable of," said Higgins. "Our whole pack played superbly."

It didn't take long for Valley to make clear their intentions with scrumhalf Elliott darting over from behind the scrum to dot down the first try. The second was added by Baddeley, whose quick tap caught the defence napping as he powered over from close range. Stokes then scored just before the break, being on hand to complete a move begun by centre Lee Jones.

HKCC, who were always under the cosh, could only reply with two penalties and a drop-goal from flyhalf Josh Hamilton as the first half belonged to Valley.

Second-half tries from Jones and substitute Charles Brough gave Valley a well-deserved win. Hamilton scored a late try for HKCC but by then the writing was already on the wall.

Article: Alvin Sallay/SCMP
Image: SCMP