DeA rely on old trooper Duley for Club clash

The dry wit and wholesome ability to laugh at himself is still around Leighton Duley. But DeA Tigers will need more than that from the old campaigner today as they take on DHL Club in a crunch First Division game in the Grand Championship at King's Park.

'We need his inspiration and his ability to lift the side. This is a big ingredient that Leighton provides,' says DeA coach Jim Walker admiringly. 'He is a competitor and a real trooper.'

Duley has been in the wars for so long that one can be forgiven for thinking the grizzly prop is ageless. 'What's your age?' we ventured from the evergreen front-rower. 'Wait. I will cut the arm off and count the rings,' he shot back.

At 43, most people of his ilk - Duley is a director on the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union board - would contemplate a life on the touchlines, perhaps with a six-pack or two. But for his sins, tighthead prop Duley has been asked to play up front for the second successive week in the DeA starting lineup.

'What we found after we played Valley in our first game in the Grand Championship was that we lacked go-forward ball in the scrum. Leighton provided us with this against Kowloon last week and hopefully he will do the same against Club. His experience is vital and in my opinion he would still pick himself for Hong Kong,' said Walker.

DeA defeated Kowloon 47-23 last week and in the process racked up a bonus point for scoring more than four tries. They hope to do the same against Football Club today and keep alive a slim chance that they can push favourites Asahi Valley for the title.

DeA will be at full strength today, especially up front. But the game could well be decided among the two back rows - DeA's Justin Gregory, Seni Seruvakula and Logona Kerisome versus Club's Duncan Lilley, Andy Randall and Paul Dingley.