Hong Kong Scottish outlast HKCC to keep proud home record intact

The Rock at Shek Kip Mei is rapidly becoming an unbridgeable bastion for the Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish “Bravehearts” who on Saturday handed league leaders Leighton Asia HKCC only their second defeat this season.

Hong Kong Scottish have not lost a fixture at home this season and Saturday’s 23-13 victory over Hong Kong Cricket Club meant the coveted Broony Quaich will remain in their hands until next year with the final game before the Christmas break next week being away to Valley.

If the plan had been to accomplish two goals with one move, then the result worked perfectly for Scottish who not only retained the Quaich, but also drew level with HKCC at the top of the standings for the second time this season with both teams on 32 points, though HKCC hold top spot because of their superior point difference.

A bonus point victory was never in sight with only two tries scored by winger Sam Gourlay and centre Lex Kaleca, the latter’s effort sandwiched between a penalty by fly-half Andrew Henderson, and the conversion early in the second half led to Scottish taking a 20-10 lead and hanging on to win what could be a massive result in the final outcome.

“It was a good win for us and a very big game for us going into the Christmas break,” said HK Scottish head coach Craig Hammond.

“Last time we played them, they did us by 40 points and smashed us up in the front, so I thought our boys stood up today and played pretty well.