Macau Bats return to Hong Kong festivals

Local rugby team, the Macau Bats, entered their first rugby festival of the new season in Hong Kong last weekend. The club entered six teams across the under 7 to under 12 age groups.
The Under-7s were first up to play at Kings Park and got the day of to a bright start with 3 wins and a draw in their games. Similarly, the U8s had a very successful campaign winning all 4 of their matches, an outcome that will see them promoted to the higher division at the next festival in two weeks.

The U9s also had a positive showing with wins against hosts USRC Tigers (5-2), Sai Kung Stingrays (9-2), followed by a 4-4 draw with Sandy Bay and a 2-5 loss to a strong Tsuen Wan Rhinos.

At U10s, the Bats fielded a joint team with Tung Chung Buffaloes. The combined team showed a lot of heart and promise in their play despite losses to USRC Tigers (2-4), Hong Kong Football Club (2-4), Shatin Shapei (3-4) and Flying Kukris (3-5).

The U11s gave a good account of themselves with four wins – against USRC Tigers (2-1); Sandy Bay (5-0); Shatin Shapei (4-0); and an impressive 6-1 win over Flying Kukris.

As with the U10s, the Bats and Tung Chung Buffaloes joined forces in the U12 age group and recorded a draw against Sandy Bay (3-3); a win (2-1) against South China Athletic before a couple of close losses to HKFC (2-4) and USRC Tigers (1-3).

Across the age groups there can be optimism for the rest of the season with the next Hong Kong festival taking place on the 19th November. Donald Shaw, Hong Kong