Hong Kong lost their HSBC Asia Sevens crown to a strong Japan team in the Final of the Singapore Sevens last Sunday Nov 10.
Hong Kong were just one point behind Japan going into this last Sevens game of the series and they needed a win to repeat last year’s performance.
After an early try by Japan’s Dai Ozawa, Hong Kong fought back with a try by Lee Jones and two tries by Ronan Varty to give Hong Kong a 19-5 cushion at half time.
But a determined Japan upped their game in the second half winning several important ruck battles and turnovers to run in a further 3-tries by Masaki Watanabe, Ozawa’s second and Tokiro Haradato to win the match 24-19.
It was heartbreaking for Hong Kong, who had contested the Final with Japan in each of the four Sevens events of the series. To make matters tougher, Hong Kong also lost their captain Jamie Hood with a niggling hamstring injury.
It was Dai Rees’ last match as coach for the Hong Kong side and although disappointed he said that he could not fault his team, but Hong Kong lifted their game magnificently to fight back.
Finishing second in the Asia Sevens is still a good result for Hong Kong as they will still gain a place in the Qualifier competition of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sevens in March 2014.
Natixis Cup Hong Kong 2013
This inaugural event and the first time two Top-14 French teams have played a representative match in Hong Kong took place at Aberdeen Sports Ground on Saturday Nov 9.
Flying into Hong Kong a few days before, both teams were involved in relationship building activities with Schools and local clubs. Toulouse had a training session with Valley and Metro 92 trained with HKFC, with coaches imparting strategy and technique advice to the squads.
The Natixis Cup match was a great success and according to the organisers 5000 tickets were sold for the event by the Friday night. There was quite a French atmosphere at the game with many supporters drawn from the 15,000 plus French community in Hong Kong. Others, although obviously from other nationalities, made an effort to dress in French style and some tried to speak with a French accent.
The game itself as one might expect was played to a high standard, but it was played as a representative match with open play with all penalties being kicked for touch or run – none were kicked for goal. After some backward and forward play early in the game, Toulouse upped the pressure and ran in three tries to Metro’s one in the first half making the score 19-5 to Toulouse at half time.
Racing Metro scored the only try of the second half to make the final score 19-12.
Both teams were under-strength with players out for the national team and it was a good opportunity for both teams to build moral and keep fit during the current break in league matches in France.
Spectators leaving the match that I spoke with enjoyed the match and thought it was a good game.
