Tigers withstand Scottish onslaught to win 27-23 and prove they are the real deal
Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers confirmed their newfound status as genuine HKRU Premiership contenders on Saturday by standing up to Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish in a bruising encounter at King’s Park and coming away with a well-deserved 27-23 victory.
Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers confirmed their newfound status as genuine HKRU Premiership contenders on Saturday by standing up to Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish in a bruising encounter at King’s Park and coming away with a well-deserved 27-23 victory.
The result sees Tigers, who before this season hadn’t won a top-flight game in two years, leapfrog Scottish into second place in the standings, four points behind unbeaten Societe Generale Valley who were pushed hard in victory over Sabre Kowloon 11-6. Natixis HKFC defeated Leighton Asia HKCC 16-13 in the other Premiership match-up of the weekend.
The clash between second-placed HK Scottish and third-placed Tigers had all the hallmarks of a great game, and it delivered in spades.
We were confident that we knew how they would play and that we had a plan to stop it. I’m really happy with the result and happy with the guys. It’s pretty significant for us as a team
The lead never exceeded seven points, but the Tigers’ tactical edge and smart decision-making was what got them over the line.
“We were confident that we had the right plan,” said coach Craig Stewart said. “We were confident that we knew how they would play and that we had a plan to stop it. I’m really happy with the result and happy with the guys. It’s pretty significant for us as a team.”
Scottish looked lively in the opening minutes, drawing a penalty kick that returning fly-half Diggy Bird had no trouble slotting over to open the scoring. But the powerful Tigers forward pack soon began to take control, with fullback Casey Stone running on to a creative kick from centre Tyler Spitz to score the first try of the match.
The teams traded blows throughout the remainder of the first half, with both creating scoring opportunities. But it was the home side who had all the answers for their more-fancied opponents and with the scores level at 13-13 going into half-time, the prospect of an upset looked very real.
Scottish scored soon after the restart and for a period they piled on the pressure. But the Tigers line held firm, with centres Spitz and Braam Gerber defending brilliantly throughout and willing their team on.
