Hong Kong win at home

Hong Kong edged a tight game at home against Singapore over the weekend as the final touches were put on preparations for both sides ahead of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers. Hong Kong won the game 22-17.

The last time these two sides met in a two-test series in December last year, Hong Kong came out slightly ahead with the first game tied at 10-10 and Hong Kong won by a single try in the second game.

Singapore came into this tie on the back of a handsome win over international newcomers Malaysia but they knew Hong Kong would present a much tougher challenge on home soil and that proved to be the case in a tough but free flowing game at the So Kan Poh Stadium.

Hong Kong started the game brightly with a try in the first ten minutes for scrumhalf Fiona Foxon who took tapped a quick penalty and dived over.

The second try came from a similar position as Singapores rearguard was caught off guard again from a quickly taken penalty and this time centre Becky Underwood, was rewarded with a try.

Singapores cause was made more difficult by injuries to a number of players early in the game as they lost number 8 Ang Wei Yi to a shoulder injury and scrum half, Aslinda Abdullah was also taken off injured. Singapore tried to regroup and reorganise their attacking pattern and their persistence paid off in the 29th minute when full back, Angelina Liu, on her first appearance for her country, scored for the away team.

Hong Kong hit back before the break when centre Underwood intercepted a long pass and touched down under the posts to give her side a 17-5 at half time.

Singapore came out firing in the second half with an early break from winger Amanda Teo taking play all the way to Hong Kongs try-line but she was just held up by Hong Kongs recovering defenders.

The home team made sure of the game when Underwood completed her hatrick shortly afterwards after string of missed tackles which brought the score to 22-5.

However Singapore werent going to fold easily and a score from flanker, Karen Yeoh brought them back into the game. That score seemed to inspire Singapore to pick up their attacking play and they put their opponents under major defensive pressure for the rest of the game until they were awarded a penalty try right at the death.

This match was an exciting appetizer ahead of the upcoming Womens Rugby World Cup Asian Qualifiers that will be held in Singapore in November.

The first round of the qualifiers will see Singapore face-off against Japan, while Hong Kong will play Kazakhstan.