DRAGONS TOIL IN THE INDONESIAN SUN

JAKARTA: On the weekend of 26/27 August 2006, the Hong Kong Dragons toured to Jakarta for the seventh annual Asian championships.

Having been in six different locations in the past six years, the champs were returning to the place where it all started back in 2000. The Dragons competed back in 2000 and were runners up to Indonesia in a four team competition. This time around, Indonesia had entered two teams - Bali and Jakarta. Also competing was Singapore (who had painted their bus like a Dingbat), Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, making it 7 teams along with Hong Kong. Only one tourist remained from the inaugural Asian champs side of 2000 - the indomitable Farmer. Farmer played rover for 4 games in 2000. In 2006 he was resigned to clipboard duties as assistant to the boundary line assistant coach Stutch snr.

Most Dragons arrived on Cathay Pacific at 7.30pm to be requested by a Bintang tour guide that we had to wait for the Japan team to arrive before we could board the (shared) team bus. Bit weird since things are so cheap in Jakarta. Following that, the Dragons were greeted by the ever worsening Jakarta traffic on the way in and eventually arrived at the hotel at about 11pm. Byrnsey's planned team meeting was put off until the next morning given that more traffic was expected on the way to the ground in this magnificent city. As such, an early night was had by all, even Byrnsey.

Saturday morning arrived and a fresh bunch of Dragons boarded the team bus for the ground. Byrnsey and Burbs gave a bit of a rev up to the boys on the way the ground and named the starting team. Despite several key regular players missing, the team was looking good with a host of new faces in the squad. The team was very confident.

Game 1 vs Japan

For the third year in a row, the Dragons were drawn to play the first match of the day. This year we had drawn Japan. In 2005, Japan surprised all by taking third position, and only missed the grand final as they ran out of legs with a small squad. As such, unlike last year against Bali, the Dragons played the A team.

The Dragons dominated the first half with Colin Mitchell controlling the midfield and Byrnsey providing headaches up forward. However, three late goals from Japan saw the Dragons only two points up at the break.

The second half started off in similar fashion to the first with the Dragons kicking three early goals to all but seal the match. Japan then got two quick ones to give them some hope. When Craig 'Bogan' Francis got pinged for deliberate out-of bounds in the back pocket, there were some nervous faces on the bench. However, as champions often do, Bogan responded by smothering the kick and forcing the turnover that led to a Dragons goal to seal the game.

Dragons: 7.3.45
Japan: 5.1.31

Goals: Mitch 3, Byrnsey 2, Dave 'Lips' Kerr 1, Matty Feeney 1
Best: Mitch, Byrnsey, Adrian Harrison, Salty, Daniel Seeow

Game 2 v Bali

Bali had earlier played Jakarta in the local derby, accounting for the hosts comfortably. It appeared at this stage of the day that Bali were the ones to beat.

The Dragons were well prepared for this, knowing that a win would put us in good position to make the final.

As such, the Dragons came out firing and dominated the first half. Daniel kicked a nice goal early on to give the Dragons first blood. Ian 'Salty' McDonald was good in the ruck and Dwight Stuchbury was roving brilliantly, along with Shannon Morgan - bad knee and all. The Dragons led 9 points to 6 at half time, and should have been further in front, but for some poor kicking and a stupid bearded umpire, who wouldn't know a mark if he worked in a German bank.

The second half started off very even with neither side able to trouble the scorers. However, about mid-way through the half the Bali Geckos managed to break the shackles and kicked a couple of goals to take the win. The final score certainly not a reflection of the game.

Dragons: 1.4.10
Bali: 3.4.22

Goals: Daniel
Best: Daniel, Stuch jnr, Salty, Adrian, Shannon

Game 3 v Jakarta

Jakarta had gone down to Bali and Thailand coming into this game. The Dragons were still considered a chance of making the final, and the squad still had self belief.

That was about as good as it got as the Dragons put in one of our worst performances in recent memory. Only Adrian and Capt Tim Burbury put in reasonable efforts in this game (probably because they were in defense where the ball was). Greg Tait slotted a nice goal in the second half.

Dragons: 1.4.10
Jakarta: 5.3.33

Goals: Tatey
Best: Adrian, Burbs

Game 4 v Thailand

After the Jakarta loss, the Dragons could no longer make the final. As a result, it was decided to give all the players who had not got much game time a decent run. Shannon and Mitch were rested.

The Dragons started well with an early goal to Sam Gribble who had somehow managed to talk Byrnsey into taking his spot at full forward. The rest of the half was pretty even with the Dragons putting in a pretty solid effort. Dave 'El Tel' Hardy was outstanding in getting caught holding the ball 17 times in 5 minutes. Half time saw a 7 point lead to the Tigers.

The second half was quite even, and the Dragons had chances to take the game. The highlight of the half was a magnificent goal from the boundary from Daniel, which should have been awarded goal of the tournament. Daniel - perhaps you should grow a blonde mullet like Singapore's Taylor to get more noticed!

In the end, the Dragons went down by 7 points.

Dragons 4.2.26
Thailand: 5.3.33

Goals: Gribble, Feens, Daniel, Lips
Best: Adrian, Byrne, Gribble, Campbell, Feeney

JAKARTA: The Hong Kong Dragons plumbed new depths last week, winning a single game at the Asian Championships in Jakarta on their way to collecting the coveted wooden spoon.

The Dragons beat Japan by two goals in their opener before meeting one of the tournament favourites, and eventual runner-up, Bali Geckos. The Dragons led at half time before fading away to a two goal defeat.

Then the rot really set in, with successive losses to the Jakarta Bintangs and Thailand Tigers.

Singapore went on to claim the their second successive championships cup, beating the Geckos 51-29 in the grand final.

In the final game of the round robin series, the Wombats also ensured the Dragons suffered the ignominy of collecting the most dreaded of kitchen utensils, by losing to Japan.

On an otherwise disastrous day, the only redeeming highlights were the selection of Matty Campbell, Daniel Seeow and Adrian (the former soccer player) Harrison winning selection in the All Asian side of the tournment. President Byrne was runner-up player of the tournment but somehow managed to be overlooked for the All Asian side.