Hong Kong trounce Korea 37-5 to emerge champions

Singer-Sri Lankan Airlines International Rugby Sevens:

Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy sports correspondent

RUGBY: Hong Kong became Cup Champions at Singer-Sri Lankan Airlines International Rugby Sevens 2007 which is an Asian Region International Rugby Board (IRB) Satellite Event when they trounced Korea by the huge margin of 37 points (two goals, four tries, one penalty) to 5 (one try) at the finals played under dreary conditions at the Nittawela Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Hong Kong led 8-0.

Rain before the match made ground conditions wet and muddy and there were many puddles of water especially behind the goal post. There was nothing the organisers could do about. The finals was played in semi darkness due to overcast conditions but Hong Kong excelled under these conditions.

Hong Kong scored their tries through winger Keith Robertson (two), flanker Nick Hurrel (three), Prop Justin Gregery (one), fly half Kenzo Pennent made the try conversions and also fired the penalty. For Korea King Sing Seo scored the solitary try.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.

Earlier, in the Cup semi-finals Hong Kong were lucky to defeat Sri Lanka by 21 points (three goals) to 14 (two goals). At half Sri Lanka led 14-7.

It was a game of lost opportunities for Sri Lanka who had the game wrapped up at one stage but threw it away through some poor play under pressure. In fact Hong Kong was lucky to win this game.

Hong Kong opened scoring through a try by flanker Andrew Chankers which many felt had not touched down clearly. Kiza Pennent added the extra points.

But Sri Lanka came back storming into the game through a try by winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and scrum half Saliya Kumara added the extra points to equalise.

Sri Lanka took the lead through another try by winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe which was goaled by Saliya Kumara.

But second half proved to be disastrous for Sri Lanka as they allowed their opponents to take control of the game. First, winger Keith Robertson scored and later Anthony Haykes touched down. Kenzo Pennent added the extra points to both.

The last try was a gift as Sri Lanka hesitated for sometime before kicking to touch which did not gain territory. From the ensuring time out, Hong Kong scored their winning try.

In the other semi-final, Korea scraped through to 14-12 win over Malaysia after the losers had led 12-5 at the breather.

In a Pool game played in the morning, Korea beat Sri Lanka 33-10, Korea beat Thailand 36-5, Hong Kong beat China 15-12, Kazakhstan beat Cambodia 45-19, Malaysia beat India 50-0 and China beat Chinese Taipei 24-15.

Plate Championship

Last year’s Cup finalists China won the Plat Championship defeating Thailand by a big margin of 34 points (two goals, four tries) to nil. At half time China led 10-0.

At the Plate semi-finals, Thailand beat Chinese Taipei 7-5 and China beat Kazakhstan 42-0.

Bowl Championship

India perhaps won their maiden title in this tournament when they became Bowl Champions by defeating Cambodia 36 points (three goals, three tries) to 5 (one try) in the Bowl finals.