The USRC went into 2010 with high hopes of repeating 2009 and at least one of our teams winning their respective league championship.
In the Yau Yee League, a third consecutive championship is the prize, it was still a possibility with the team lying in third place at the half-way stage of the season. But things did not get off to a great start on 20th December when 816 inflicted a 1-0 defeat. Games are always tough against this lot and it proved to be the case again. Fortunately, a game against KCC Knights (the Cox’s Road club’s second team) on 10th January proved a post-Christmas tonic and they were thrashed 5-1. Among the goals were Henry Callaghan (2), Wayne Flanagan, Dave Jessop and making his début, Kay Kulkarni. This form was carried on against Squadron on 24th January with a narrow 1-0 win (Michael Boas) and against Antonhill a week later with a 3-0 victory (Andy Mitchell, Arjun Menon, and Kulkarni again). However, the run came to a crashing end against Mobsters on 7th February (0-2). With the top two teams, Albion and Wanderers continuing to win each week, gap was widening and the title seemed to be slipping away. By the middle of February, with just six games remaining, the top of the table looked like this:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
Club Albion |
16 |
13 |
3 |
0 |
51 |
14 |
37 |
42 |
Club Wanderers |
16 |
13 |
1 |
2 |
49 |
15 |
34 |
40 |
USRC |
16 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
26 |
18 |
8 |
32 |
816 |
16 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
25 |
19 |
6 |
28 |
KCC Dragons |
15 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
34 |
21 |
13 |
27 |
Club Colts |
16 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
29 |
18 |
11 |
27 |
In the Legal League, the USRC had recovered from their dismal start to the season and good wins in December against Men United by 6-1 (Callaghan (3), Laurence Rudge, Vince Docherty and Kulkarni) and Force by 2-0 (Mitchell (2)) had set them up for the winter break. Yet, like their counterparts in the Yau Yee League, they got off to a rotten start of the year, losing 1-0 against J-Leaguers on 8th January and 4-0 to league leaders Spartans on 15th. But then followed a run of form and six points were picked up against Studz (2-1, Callaghan, Kulkarni) and then Goodfellas (5-1, Dave Kirby (2), Ed Fife, Kulkarni, and an o.g.), both teams which had beaten us in the first round of matches. So by the end of February, the top of the table looked like this:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
Spartans |
14 |
12 |
0 |
2 |
47 |
14 |
33 |
36 |
Revolution |
15 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
29 |
19 |
10 |
28 |
Goodfellas |
15 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
23 |
23 |
0 |
26 |
Mes Amis |
13 |
7 |
4 |
2 |
33 |
20 |
13 |
25 |
Monopoly |
15 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
23 |
19 |
4 |
23 |
Force |
14 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
33 |
25 |
8 |
21 |
J-Leaguers |
14 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
25 |
26 |
-1 |
21 |
USRC |
16 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
34 |
28 |
6 |
20 |
Studz |
16 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
25 |
35 |
-10 |
17 |
Men United |
14 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
20 |
43 |
-23 |
12 |
The Legal League runs a parallel competition known as the Champions League in which all 12 teams in the league are split into two groups and the points for the second round of marches between these teams count also for points in the Champions League. The wins against Studz and Goodfellas meant that the USRC had gained 6 points already in this competition and were well-placed to finish in the top two and qualify for the semi-finals:
Group A |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
USRC |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
Monopoly |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
Revolution |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
Goodfellas |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
-4 |
3 |
Mes Amis |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Studz |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
-4 |
0 |
So a mixed start to the year for our teams. Undoubtedly the player to have made the greatest impact is Kay Kulkarni. The lad now studying at Hong Kong U fortunately ignored the call of his dad to play cricket (Animesh is the Club’s Cricket Convenor) and is now a star of both teams. In the ten games played, he managed to score in five of them. Well done Kay.
Away from league action, on 20th and 21st February, the Club were represented in the inaugural Yau Yee League International Nine-a-side Tournament. Sixteen teams took part, including guest teams from Shanghai and Guangzhou. The USRC took a strong squad and were among the favourites. A very good first day saw them win two games (against HKFC and Spartans) and draw the other against a team from Discovery Bay to top their group. On the second day a narrow defeat to a Yau Yee League Select side on the small Pitch 2 denied them the chance in the Cup and sent them into the Plate. An easy semi-final win over French Kiss set up a final against Dynacors. The amalgam of Dynamos and Corinthians were no match for the USRC who ran our 3-1 winners to claim the Plate. This was an excellent tournament and the USRC will be hoping to take part next year and win the Cup, which was incidentally won by an 816 side consisting of professional players from Hong Kong FA side Tai Po. They beat HKFC in the final.
Alan Urmston
Photos:
USRC squad which played in the Yau Yee League International Nine-a-sides.
Back row: Mark Vrijmoed, Andy Mitchell, Kay Kulkarni, Henry Callaghan, Leo de Ruijter, Mike Grimshaw, Carlo Dilibrio, Richard Ewart (Coach)
Front row: Stephen Ambassa, Arjun Menon, Michael Blay, Sam Shamarrange, Juan Calvet, Booma Taku
Juan Calvet in action against Yau Yee League Select in Yau Yee League International Nine-a-sides.
Coach Richard Ewart directs play in the Yau Yee League International Nine-a-sides
|
