2006 Results 

Match Report:

DRAGONS SNATCH LAST MINUTE THRILLER

Betsy lines up for one of his seven

Shanghai: With just seconds on the clock in the final stanza, the Hong Kong Dragons took the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter and held on for a thrilling three point win against the Shanghai Tigers in China.

Confronting a 17 point deficit at three quarter time and kicking into the teeth of a chilly three-goal north China breeze, the Dragons never-say-die attitude dragged them to an unlikely victory.

A stunned home crowd gathered on the outer perimeter of Shanghai was left silenced as debutant Betsy drilled his seventh and final goal of the day with 30 seconds left on the clock. A three point deficit was turned into a three point lead and the Shanghai Tigers were left with one last bouncedown to create something special.

But the Dragons gun midfield evacuated the ball out of danger and into the forward line before the siren sounded on a much-needed win for a side that, while formidable at home, has taken to the road of late like an Indian cricket team.

The match also provided a fitting farewell for one of its favourite sons, Tim Burbury, who put in a stellar performance in the backline.

Despite stealing Besty's man-of-the-match award, Byrnes-eye was his usual dominant self around the ground. His award-winning, headline-grabbing opportunism stems both from the ability to take a big grab and his penchant for placing his 200cm frame in front of the umpires and setting his pubic hair alight - never fails to get noticed by the umps.

With greasy conditions prevailing, the Dragons mosquito fleet was integral to its eventual success, with Junior Burger Stuchy always lurking dangerously, Taity putting in a good second half, the ageless Winesy solid and the unlikely figure of Farmer, in his 51st match, showing some of the class he has often spoken of but none have witnessed. Well, 'class' may be too heady a superlative, but 'dogged persistence' would cover it.

The first quarter saw an experimental midfield of Salty, Stuchy, Besty and Boges clash with the decorated Tigers engine room. Honours were even, with little separating the two sides at quarter time. The Dragons created opportunities but failed to convert.

The second quarter saw Shannon, Wu and Tait assume some roaming capacity (unlike the mobile phone of President and organiser Byrne), while the twin-spearheads of Caldwell and Allen were diluted with some speedier options. But the Dragons still were overrun by a fit and fired up Tigers team.

Laughing all the way to the winners' circle

Kicking with the wind in the third quarter after receiving a spray from the management heirarchy, the Dragons lifted but again were dragged to the wide expanses of flanks and pockets that seemingly receded to the Tibetan steppes.

The irrespressible goalsneak 'Loose' Faulkner popped up for a major after popping out of a waist-deep pothole and Besty broke a pack like a card-shark and boomed one in from half-forward to fire the visitors.

But with Marcus Tehan, player of the tournament in Hong Kong earlier in the year, and no 4 powering out of the midfield despite wearing more tags than Posh Spice's wardrobe, it was still the Tiges in front at the final change.

Each side went goal-for-goal, with the Dragons every major replied to almost immediately. A sealer from a suspect holding the ball decision against Burbs, who had unceremoniously flung a mother hen from atop his hatchling, seemed to consign the Dragons to a grim year.

But it was the Dragons who dug deepest and took the spoils. In an emotion-charged spectacle unlikely to be bettered in China before the 2008 Olympics, Besty celebrated his winning goal with a selfless solo run to the boundary to accept the plaudits of the crowd.

Goalscorers for the Dragons were Besty (7), Faulks, Dale, Stuch and Doddsy.

Special praise must be made to the Tigers, who organised a great trip, from our bus and beer wenches at the airport to the end of a great function at the Big Bamboo.

As usual in Asia, football was the winner.

Craig 'Boges' Francis

Match Report:

Lips goals from the 45m mark

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.

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

Match Report:

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.

Goals: Daniel Seeow
Best: Daniel, Stuch, Salty, Adrian Harrison, Shannon

Match Report:

Jakarta had gone down to Bali and Thailand coming into this game. With one win and one loss, 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 their worst performances in recent memory. Only Adrian Harrison and Tim Burbury put in reasonable efforts in this game (probably because they were in defense where the ball was). Taitey slotted a nice goal in the second half.

Goals: Greg Tate
Best: Adrian, Burbs

Crunch time: Nico (standing) and Mitch (ground) take a hit

Match Report:

After the Jakarta loss in game three, 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 Morgan and Colin Mitchell were rested.

The Dragons started well with an early goal to Sam Gribble who had somehow managed to talk President 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 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 Seeow, which should have been awarded goal of the tournament. Daniel - perhaps you should grow a blonde mullet like Singapore's Taylor to get noticed!

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

Goals: Gribble, Matt Feeney, Daniel, Lips Kerr
Best: Adrian Harrison, Byrne, Gribble, Matty Campbell, Feeney

Salt in the wound

Singapore, having already qualified for the final, rested all their key players for their final game against Japan. This resulted in Japan winning a close one, and sending the Dragons to the bottom of the ladder on percentage.

Not a good result for the Dragons, but there was only really one bad performance by the team for the day (v Jakarta) and hence the boys could still hold their heads high. We will be back next year in Bangkok with players back, and in one of the Dragons preferred touring destinations.

   Three Dragons took on the boys from Papua and Bandung

The final saw Singapore play Bali. The game was closer than 2005's final between the same teams, but Singapore were always in control and won by about 4 goals.

Three Dragons, Michael Corcoran, Hardy and Jared took part in the exhibition match between a combined Asian side and the local Indonesian/PNG side.

The tournament and post-match function were superbly organised by the Jakarta Bintangs, and it was a pleasure to be a part of it. Asian footy is growing in strength, and it is worth mentioning that all teams that played were very competitive - the first time in the seven year history of the tournament that at least one team was not an easybeat.

Match Report:

Dragons make light work of Asian champs

In the opening game, the Hong Kongers played superior wet-weather football, comfortably accounting for reigning Asian champions Singapore 5.12 (42) to 2.2 (14).

The major threat to the Dragons' dominance over the past few years on their home patch was expected to come from the Singapore Wombats. But the early talk in the changerooms of tourist traps such as Fenwicks offered a poignant reminder of how tough it is to win on the road.

The Dragons burst out of the blocks like a team that had collectively enjoyed a solid eight hours sleep after a quiet night in with a DVD and soporific Horlicks cuppa. The Wombats were possibly wishing they could burrow beneath the centre square and sleep off the hangover.

The Dragons took a little while to convert their ascendency out of the guts into scoreboard dominance. But with the likes Matty Campbell, Riggsy, Col'n Mitchell and Stuchy winning the centre clearances it was a matter of time before the likes of goalsneak Mallia, el Presidente Byrnes and prolific (if not wayward) Lips did the damage.

While the Dragons were winning most of the contested footy, it was the Wombats that looked the more polished when they actually did handle the Sherrin.

When the visitors went forward, they did so with smooth authority, linking passes and handballs like a round of beers coming over the heads of the crowd from a mate at a packed bar.

But it tended to break down in the Dragons backline, where Ian Allen was unpassable and the likes of Archer, Hardy, Tate, Mrad, Boges and Fabs cleared the pill with precision.

The Dragons went on to win by 28 points - a solid day at the office, albeit a really hot, wet office with no room or air con'.

Craig 'Bogan' Francis

Match Report:

Some pre-game pundits had suggested in the media that China were the poor third of this glamour tri-nations trio.

The pundits were wrong. A new-look China side, led by player-of-the-tournament Marcus Tehan, had the Dragons reeling early. The Dragons went two goals down before they got one back.

China were playing a bit like the Doggies, lacking in height but moving the ball fluently and running in numbers. The Dragons had fallen into a trap not unlike that of the 2006 Asian Champs in Manila, simply failing to ignite.

At half time, in a low scoring affair, the home side was a mere four points in front, having trailed for almost the entire half.

The Dragons were looking for leaders and they emerged in the form of Mojo Matt 'The Fiend' Feeney and a few others. Feeney played one of the best of his 29 games for the Dragons, repelling a wave of Chinese attacks.

At the other end of the ground the Prez was a spearhead, the mercurial Faulkner snapped a gem, Mals was again lively and old man Winesy was his effervescent self.

First gamer Graham 'Trotsky' Merrett enjoyed his share of the footy while Pommy Rob Burton and Tatey both got amongst it. Along the half foward line, the Jackal was his bustling self, diving on the loose ball and feeding handballs to the more celebrated running brigade.

The highlight of the game came in the second half when big man Ian had the commentary team lunging for the thesaurus searching for adjectives (ED: they're 'describing words', Riggsy). The ones that came to hand were audacious, silky and sublime. On a half forward flank, the big man coolly stepped around one China defender with a deft sell of the dummy, only to be confronted with another Chinaman. But it was a seller's market for for dummies, and he coolly cashed in with an even more delightful fake and sidestep before unloading into the square.

The Dragons greater fitness and finesse told in the end, as they ran out 23 point winners.

Two weary visiting sides then fought out a tough game as the mercury nudged 34 degrees and steam rose from the hybrid buffalo-cooch playing deck. China caused one of the boilovers of season 2006 by dismantling a Singapore side that seemed to have slowed appreciably since its win in the Manila champs. The score was 4.7 (31) to 1.2 (8).

The Dragons best game plan was possibly placing the Wombats and China in the heart of Wan Chai for the weekend.

Craig 'Bogan' Francis

Match Report:

Kowloon: The Hong Kong Dragons have lost their International Rules clash with the Irish, 75 points to 50.

Saturday 27th May saw the Hong Kong Dragons play the Gaelic Football side in a game of Combined Rules. While we only had 14 payers turn up, it didn't stop the boys putting together a competitve side in a fast and high contact game.

While we did trail at the end of each quarter, we were able to reduce the margin to go down 75-50. Unfortunately Burbs tore his hammy and Nigel sustained a suspected fractured wrist, putting pressure on an already depleted bench of older men.

Big efforts were seen by big bad bustling Barry "Peter Kenny" Hall, Ian Allen, Greg Tate and Graeme Rigg.

Thanks to the rest of the lads that came down, as well as the spectators and hopefully in the next round we play against the Gaelic boys we can really give it a crack.

Jamie Liddle is a traitor and fronted up for the Irish boys. Questions will be asked.

Nathan Byrne