Firsts 37 - 8 HKCC

After 10 consecutive wins in the league only the most optimistic of punter would have bet against Tradition Valley at So Kon Po on Saturday. Undefeated, league champions, and over whelming favourites, they showed no sign of nerves comprehensively out playing Synovate HKCC Aberdeen 37-8.
Speaking before the match, HKCC full-back and coach Colin Bisley expressed his side’s desire, but there was undoubtedly a tone of resignation. “You have to be confident, but they’ve got so many good players all over the pitch.” The seemingly orchestrated sound, moments before the start, of Valley pounding tackle bags with assistant coach Wayne Caton urging them on with a series of snarls and grunts drew foreboding looks from HKCC as they quietly warmed up.
Yet the neutral was excited to see Valley touch the ball only twice in the opening ten minutes, both times having kicks charged down, willing Aberdeen forward. The pressure resulted in two penalties, but fly-half Kingsbear, integral in last week’s win over Kowloon, missed both.
When Valley finally got the ball in hand, alarm bells were ringing for HKCC, as the champions pace out wide stretched their defence. Fly half and Captain Justin Temara got Valley moving with a simple penalty, then Ally McLay, the battering ram of an outside centre punctured the line to free Ed Rolston for the first try. Soon after, lock Alex Baddeley went blind from a mall, busting through two tackles and crossed for Valley’s second for a 13-0 lead.
Aberdeen played with continuity from the restart, challenging the Valley defence and Kingsbear kicked a penalty to narrow the gap. A massive up and under caught full-back Ross Armour out of position and turnover ball resulted in HKCC centre Simon Smith dashing 40 metres for a 13-8 deficit.
Aberdeen’s optimism quickly evaporated minutes before half-time as Armour produced a perfectly weighted grubber kick, fortunately deflecting off a HKCC hand for a 5 metre line-out. The Valley forwards laid a perfect platform for Temara who scored easily under the posts to make it 20-8 at the break.
Valley’s Jonathan Elliot scored quickly after the restart to settle the tie, and despite centre McLay being sin-binned for a professional foul HKCC failed to add to their total. Late on the champions exploited yawning gaps in the HKCC defence as they chased the game, with Armour and Alexander adding Tradition’s fifth and sixth scores.
Valley coach Brian Higgins, was in typically ebullient mood after another victory,“ Yes it was a great effort by the guys, we didn’t panic and kept our heads. We’re favourites [for the final] and we’re not going there to lose.”
After the match Bisley said, “They dominated the rucks for their tries and kept coming back at us. We’ve had a tough season with injuries but to get that far is pleasing.”
The other semi-final was equally one-sided as league runners-up CBRE Hong Kong Football Club dismantled surprise outfit Manulife Causeway Bay Rams 40-7.
Asked who he thought would win next week’s final at King’s Park, Bisley said, “Valley are the form team, Club on their day can be competitive but I can’t see past Valley winning it.“

Ace reporter Owen Neilson.