TITLE contenders Keris Conlay showed true grit to come from behind and clinch maximum points against RMAF Blackhawks in their Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU) Super League opening match at the Bellamy grounds yesterday.
Conlay, runners-up last year after losing to Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (Cobra) in the final, started yesterday's match with conviction and opened accounts in the fifth minute when No 8 Mohd Khairul Aimi sneaked in a try after Blackhawks failed to clear their lines.
Blackhawks, however, were quick to regroup and their applied pressure paid off in the 25th minute when they were awarded a penalty which was cooly converted by winger Azizan Abdul, who was again in the thick of the action 10 minutes later when he brushed off a series of challenges to score and see his team finish the half leading 8-5.
Conlay emerged a different side after the break and were quick to regain the lead through a Shekh Muhammad Haris Abdullah try five minutes after the restart, and then increased their lead when Mohd Khairul got his second try in the 53rd minute after a mazy run by winger Muhd Faridzal Ismail opened up space for his teammates.
Conlay kept up the pressure and killed off the match in the 68th minute when Mohd Firdaus Abdul Manan scored his team's fourth try.
A late surge by Blackhawks, who fielded an all-local team, allowed them a reply again through Azizan in the 75th minute, but it was however too late and saw them lose 20-15.
Hisham Hassan, the Conlay coach, said his side lacked organisation in the first half but was happy his charges were able to regroup to clinch their first win of the season.
"We have seven new players this season and were experimenting a little with the strategy and players in the first half which caused us to be quite disorganised," said Hisham.
"We managed to fix our lineout in the second-half and play a tighter game as we knew that Blackhawks have an open style of play and it paid off as we controlled the game.
"This is a great start to the season for us. We are definitely looking to go one step further this year and win the overall title," he added.
Conlay will face Super League newcomers Royal Selangor Club (RSC), who qualified for the tournament after reaching the final of the recent National Inter-Club Championship, in their second group match next Saturday.
In other Group B matches yesterday, RSC beat Asas RFC 16-13, ATM RAMD beat Bandaraya Dragons 15-3 while in Group A, Jlj Armed Forces beat UiTM Lions 14-11.
Defending champions Cobra, who are in Group A, start their campaign on Wednesday when they face Sahoca at the Bellamy ground.