Rugby Academy | Bats fought like tigers

Local rugby team the Macau Bats participated in the new season’s first rugby tournament in Hong Kong hosted by USRC Tigers last Sunday. An early morning departure from Macau did not appear to impact the U7s and they quickly got off to fine start – winning a tight game 2-1 against South China Athletic, followed by a 2-0 win over Valley Fort, a 1-0 reversal against Shatin Sha Pei before returning to winning ways by beating Tin Shiu Wai Eagles by 3-0.

The U8s opened with a free scoring 4-4 draw against South Lantau Buffaloes. This was followed by a thrilling 7-2 win over Sandy Bay and another two high scoring draws, 5-5 with East Kowloon and 4-4 against Tin Shiu Wai Eagles.

The U9s took to the field in the late afternoon and promptly got down to business, starting with a 3-1 win over a tough Hong Kong Football Club team. The second game against the Flying Kukris was a tight and cagey affair until Macau broke through, thereafter the dam broke and Macau ran out comfortable winners by 7-1. A very good 3-0 win against Sai Kung Stingrays was followed up by a strong 6-1 win over the hosts USRC Tigers to give the U9s a 100 percent win record.

The U10s promptly matched the success of the U9s by winning all four of their games as well – 8-1 against Tai Hung Tun, 6-0 against Tung Chun, a tough 4-2 win over South China Athletic and a 4-0 win against Tin Shiu Wai Eagles ensured the team returned to Macau in high spirits.

The U12s were playing in the Richard Hawkes Cup at Causeway Bay and like their younger teammates delivered a resounding set of performances. First up was a 6-0 win over a Tung Chun select followed by a similar 6-0 win over a combined Stingrays and Tigers team. A much tighter game followed against Valley Fort, although a number of late score made the game appear more straightforward than was the case, Macau Bats winning 5-0. This then set up a final game against Hong Kong Football Club that the Bats needed to win to ensure that they topped the league and gain promotion. This they duly did, running out winners by 5-0.

Next weekend sees the Bats travel to Harrow International school for a series of games (U8,10,12,13) before getting ready for the second Hong Kong festival on the 18th November. Donald Shaw, Hong Kong, Special to MDT