Asian 7s: Hong Kong surprise, but China triumph
After finishing runners-up in the Asian XV Championship in May, Hong Kong’s newly-created professional women’s squad reached their first sevens final since 2003 at the first leg of the Asian Sevens Championship. But they could not stop neighbours China winning the tournament.
Published by John Birch, August 24th, 2014
3 minute read
Hong Kong’s first major sevens tournament of their new professional era had a difficult beginning on Day One of the first leg of the 2014 Asian Sevens Championship.
The return of the Championship to the territory for the first time since 2003 created extra pressure for the team, and the outcome was a disappointing performance which nearly saw them miss out on the semi-finals after failing to beat Thailand. They look tired, nervous, and seemed to suffer more from the heat and high humidity than any other team
Day Two was a different matter. In identical conditions to the previous day, Hong Kong took on Japan in the first semi-final. History was against them – Hong Kong had not beaten Japan at sevens since 2006 and have not reached an Asian final for eleven years – but, despite conceding an early score to the power and strength of Japan’s outstanding hooker Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave, Hong Kong fought back, making none of the mistakes that characterised their play on the opening day, while the huge pressure they put on the 2013 champions forced Japanese errors.
The speed of Aggie Poon pulled them level before, with the large home crowd vocal in their support, Amelie Seure got the winning score in the final minute.
The story did not quite have the perfect finish, as China swept to a clear 38-7 win in the final, but coach Anna Richards was “pretty happy with the silver medal”. This is a work in progress – “onward and upwards girls!” she said after the game.
China, however, sit in pole position, with Xiao Ming Yu in particular having an outstanding all-round tournament, with five tries and 15 conversions. It is hard to see them failing to regain the Asian title when battle resumes in October.
Before then China, Hong Kong and Japan return to the same ground in three weeks’ time for the World Series qualifier. The experience of this weekend (not least the very testing playing conditions) will be invaluable, though it will still be an uphill battle for any of the three to win one of the four places on offer.
Kazakhstan, who finished fourth this weekend, get a welcome break to prepare to defend their Asian Games title at the end of September.
Results:
Plate
Semi-finals:
Singapore 10-26 Sri LankaThailand 49-0 Philippines
7th/8thplace:
Singapore 28-10 Philippines
Plate final:
Sri Lanka 19-14 Thailand
Cup
Semi-finals:
Japan 5-10 Hong KongChina 19-12 Kazakhstan
3rd/4thplace:
Japan 19-5 Kazakhstan
Final:
Hong Kong 7-38 China