Intrigue and angst on the cards as Tigers go for repeat feat against Valley
A topsy-turvy HKRU Premiership bounces back into action Saturday with a clash between two hard-hitting league titans taking second billing to Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers’ push to continue their fairytale start to the 2015-16 season.
While league runners-up Bloomberg HK Scottish look to put an opening-round loss behind them when they travel to defending league champions Leighton Asia HKCC most, if not all, eyes will be glued to the Tigers-Valley match-up in Happy Valley.
Last weekend, against a newly rebuilt and strengthened Natixis HKFC, Tigers recorded their first league win in two-and-a-bit seasons, winning 26-14.
Against HKFC we controlled the game for long periods and will need to replicate that this week… We enter the match [against Valley] with self belief on the back of a good display
While a repeat this Saturday seems unlikely – away to defending Grand Champions Societe Generale Valley – confidence is running high in the Tigers camp.
“This week is a big challenge,” coach Craig Stewart said. “[But] it is important for us to build on the success of our first game. Against HKFC we controlled the game for long periods and will need to replicate that this week.
“The guys fought hard for that win and got their reward. We know that Valley are always a tough proposition – if you give them any opportunities they will punish you. But we enter the match with self belief on the back of a good display.”
However, Stewart said the team’s efforts will be hampered by the absence of a few key backs, namely Braam Gerber (work commitments) and Tyler Spitz, who rolled his ankle during training this week.
