Match Report

A game of pure mongrel, with stubborn defence and heroic self-belief. A game that will go down as one of the great Phoon victories of modern times...

Your correspondent was first to the park, with the intention of eating a late lunch and watching HKFC Select take on Gai Wu. This turned into an early opportunity to hurl abuse at Football Club. Our men arrived in 2s and 3s as usual, but not with minutes to go before KO. There was the usual banter, but with a look of purpose and intensity that suggested something special to come.

Jannie introduced new boy Pete (a fellow Bok) who was immediately handed no.9 duties.

The rest of the starting team were chosen for mobility, as Waz's intention was to get the ball out wide and test this huge opposition team away from the tight 5. And their tight 5 was enormous, something out of the horrors of "300", huge beasts who know one way to play. Their scrum must have weighed at least 400 pounds more than us.

And we defended hard from the first. Tom came off bloodied early on, other replacements were on within 20 minutes. The physical intensity was awesome, but the Phoon line held, and Sequins were being penalized for going over the top again and again. From a quick penalty  the ball was flicked wide, and Andy ran an easy 50 yards... the fight was being taken to them.

Again they kept pushing us in the scrum, and mauling us for many yards, but we dug in and neutralised them. They rarely went out wide, and one time that they did Beevers dump tackles their centre and earns 10 minutes in the bin. During this period they scored in the corner, but Jannernan's cover tackle clearly put their winger out. Linesman saw it, but the referee gave it. (Other than that the ref had a pretty good day, it is to be said, despite some heckling from Waz and constant whinging from Sequins).

So they did score but we scored right back. Again quick ball and Grant found himself 10 yards out with only one man to beat, and Grant ran over him. I heard one of their 2nd row monsters grunt, "how did that happen?" The first seeds of doubt creeping into their line.

At half-time we were an even (5-5). The brawl order was stood down, instead we had to keep our discipline and continue defending. Nico was a sea of calm. Their ugly no. 8 had been picking up and running at Nico all day, and Nico had stopped him, and stopped him. Other heroic tackling from Lockie, Pete, Jannerman, and others. It was a massive team effort, with another half to go.

At some point they scored again. I have no recollection of how, but again we scored right back. Roy running with the backs, fends off, weaves, runs and kicks over their defence. He gathers the bounce and their 15 opts to take him high - to be easily fended off. He scores one of the great tries we've ever seen. (Admittedly he's been trying this shit for ages but for once it paid off). "Johnny" Coles got the crucial 2 points and the Phoons had the lead!

Sequins continued to do what they know, and continued to be frustrated by tackle and tackle, and more tackling. We had gone to no-push scrums which helped us, but away from set pieces their size was not enough to get through. They become desperate, they dropped balls, and from a penalty just outside our 22 they opted for 3 points. They missed and Johnny booted it deep, again frustrating them. Their heads were down. And stayed down.

At full time we shook hands, clapped them off and went to a huddle. "Who hates Football Club?!" We pulled off the win! And 100% Phoon spirit had won the day. Cue for beers and fines. Nico and Pete shared best player, but it was collective Phoons what did it. A great, great win. Well done.

Tim