Club Magazine Issue 05, 2018

Rugby News
UBB Gavekal claim back-to-back titles,
hosts Natixis HKFC lift Shield at GFI HKFC 10s
UBB Gavekal retained the Bill Burgess Cup at the 33rd GFI HKFC
10s when a late try by Fiji Sevens back Leveni Kurimalawai
secured a thrilling 24-17 win over a Tradition YCAC side dominated
by New Zealanders.
The all-Fijian Samurai squad secured the Plate, Hong Kong’s Taikoo Place
Scottish Exiles grabbed the Bowl and hosts Natixis HKFC defeated Irish
Vikings to win the Shield at the ‘Worlds Best 10s’, which took place on
Wednesday 4th April and Thursday 5th April.
UBB’s Fiji Sevens backs scored four tries in the final and proved to be the
difference as Samu Bale touched down for an early opener, Sakeo Raloa
then added two tries and Kurimalawai scored the winner after the sides
were locked at 17-17 at Hong Kong Football Club.
Representing Top 14 club Union Bordeaux Begles, UBB were surprise
winners last year, but this year lived up to their top-seed status as head
coach Matt Clarkin – the former UBB captain – led his side to a second
successive victory.
“We’re ecstatic. We’re ecstatic! We knew going back-to-back was going
to be an even bigger challenge than coming last year as underdogs, but
we thrived on that challenge and the boys showed up hungry and they
got the job done,” said Clarkin, whose five Fiji Sevens players included
forwards Keponi Paul and Vasikali Mudu.
“The Fiji guys did for us what they did for us last year, but our trademark
is working hard for each other. I think that’s still our strength and I think
you saw that in the final. To have three yellow cards against you and still
come out on top is a huge feat so I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
UBB ran out to a quick 12-0 lead with tries from Bale and Raloa, before
New Zealand’s Angus Gibbens pulled one back for YCAC. Raloa
extended UBB’s lead to 17-5 before tries by New Zealand’s Te Puoho
Stephens and Tonga’s Willie Fotofili made it 17-17, but Kurimalawai
scored late on to ensure captain Nick Smith was left lifting the Cup.
“It was the same thing as last year: we just came together as a tight unit,”
said Smith, who scored four tries from flyhalf, while compatriot Renata
Tenana also scored four tries over the two days.
“We’re all from different parts of the world, from Fiji, South Africa, New
Zealand and Hong Kong, but at the end of the day, it’s how you gel
together.”
Doddie Weir, the former Scotland and Lions lock suffering from Motor
Neurone Disease, walked out with the match ball for the final and was
presented with a HK$100,000 cheque for the My Name’5 Doddie
Foundation, the tournament’s official charity.
Natixis HKFC co-captains Tom Isaacs and Mitch Andrews lifted the
Shield after the hosts beat Irish Vikings 17-0. It was a popular victory
22 May 2018