Rugby Men Prems (1)
Matches
Sat 14 Nov 2020
Tigers
9
18
Societe Generale Valley RFC
Rugby Men Prems (1)
Tries: M Purvis, W MeltzerConversions: P AltierPenalties: P Altier, M Rosslee
Tigers Bear Fangs and Claws but cannot Down the Horse

Tigers Bear Fangs and Claws but cannot Down the Horse

Grant Beuzeval17 Nov 2020 - 06:42
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Societe Generale Valley pushed all the way by energetic Tigers but win through two tries and robust defence

Photos courtesy of HKRU

On an overcast and coolish mid-November afternoon, the Societe Generale Valley men’s premiership team once again slithered away from King’s Park, under darkness, with four competition points in their back pocket while Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers were left with the bar tab and another raw loss.

As in round 1, defence was the cornerstone of both teams campaigns as arousing, open-play was shelved for a few rounds down the road. Not to say that there was nothing to get excited about – there was plenty of bone-crunching action – but let’s just say that wingers are not seeing much ball as yet in the Saxo Markets Premiership.

Valley scored the only two meat pies of the match with the opening effort moistening most tight forwards. From a thrust that looked like Nyasha Tarusenga had made it to the chalk, under the posts, a protracted ensuing free-for-all was ended when Mitch Purvis - growing tired of the frantic commotion - decided to take things into his own hands buy simply setting the ball down over the line. His father, a former All Black prop, would no doubt have awarded that one a solid ten from his armchair in New Zealand.

Three penalties from Tigers’ flyhalf, Josh Henderson, took them to the break at 9-7 over Valley on their home ground but they were not to score again in the second stanza.

Meanwhile, Paul Altier and Matt Rosslee added penalties for the Horsemen before a 95 metre counter-attack from a series of botched Tigers lineouts, produced the try of the match. Admittedly, a good 70 of those 95 metres were the result of Rosslees raking clearing kick from his own line but the chase was intense.

As Sam Purvis chugged back into his 22 to finally halt the ball – he was confronted by Theo Rolston and Carl Marks (a literally breathtaking chase from the Valley “6”). A sloppy clearing click by fullback Zac Hirstich was charged by Rolston and Marks had the vision, skill and intelligence to let it bounce of his knee, rather than attempt catching it, and into the hands of fast arriving Purvis who wasted no time in sending it wide to Whiria Meltzer who’d screamed down field, loomed up out wide and dotted down with no defenders in sight.

It was a crushing episode of play for the Tigers but with Altier missing the conversion, there was still plenty of time – with the gap being just six points.

However, it was Valley that worked their way downfield once more and through obstinate pressure, forced the big cats to cough up a penalty that Rosslee dually nudged over.

Final score was 18-9 to Valley who now sit second on the ladder after two rounds and will face HK Scottish at the Valley in round 3.

The Kerry Hotels Man of the Match was Martin Muller. Full credit.

Mitch won the Caltex Battle of the Purvis's. Full credit also.

Match details

Match date

Sat 14 Nov 2020

Kickoff

16:00
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Title Sponsor - Societe Generale