And yesterday, Hong Kong's budding pin-ups showed that not only do they possess the abs and the pecs suitable for a glossy calendar, but that they also have the heart and soul suited for a stirring display.

It was gutsy stuff all the way and the best performance by Hong Kong this year. And it was a huge turnaround from last Sunday when Hong Kong were thrashed 64-11.

'This is the best the team has gone in a long time,' said captain Roger Patterson. 'Last week it took some time for us to gel together but today everyone went really well.' If individual choices must be named, then outstanding were No 8 Duane Davis and flanker Rick Shuttleworth in the forwards while Robin Bredbury showed that the territory might have found a scrum-half for next month's Asian Rugby Football Tournament.

In the backs, Warren Warner had an excellent game as did fly-half Vaughan Going and winger Isi Tu'ivai.

But it was as a unit that the team excelled. The Hong Kong forwards' driving play and commitment in the loose made life that much harder for the Fijians in the set pieces and at the breakdown.

The Hong Kong backline shrugged off their gossamer touch and tightened up the midfield defence so much that the Fijians had to resort to the unlikely kick-and-chase stuff.

The lineout, which Fiji dominated totally in the first Test, was more equally shared yesterday. The lack of clean possession was one of the main reasons why the Fijians struggled to find their rhythm.

And of course they were tired - having played three games in six days - and missing a couple of key players, mainly hooker Greg Smith, who returned to New Zealand.

'It has been tiring playing three games in six days. And we were down to just one reserve forward. But full credit to Hong Kong. They came out as we expected them to,' said Fiji coach Brad Johnstone.

He pointed out that Fiji's lack of clear dominance in the lineout had affected his side's usual expansive game.

Missing was the free-flowing, slick-handling game. Fiji yesterday had to depend on the boot. They gained ground not by running, but by kicking to touch. In the first Test, they conceded only five lineouts to Hong Kong. Yesterday, that number was trebled as they struggled to gain ground. And with Rob Grindlay winning plenty of ball in the front, Hong Kong gained good ball.

After trading early penalties, Hong Kong went into the lead with a lovely try by Tu'ivai.

It started on the halfway mark from a Hong Kong scrum in the centre of the pitch. Warner cleverly ran around to create the overlap. Going took it on and thrust through the defence before passing on to an unmarked Tu'ivai who covered 30 metres to touch down by the corner flag. Warner missed the conversion, but Hong Kong led 8-3.

That lead lasted 10 minutes as Fiji came back through a penalty and two goals to lead 20-8 at half-time.

Hong Kong cut the deficit after the break with the forwards driving play upfield for Davis to burrow in under a mass of bodies. Leighton Duley and Patterson also must share credit for that try.

Warner missed the conversion but made up for it with a penalty as Hong Kong trailed 20-16.

Rattled by Hong Kong's committed forwards, Fiji decided to play percentage rugby, trying to keep play inside Hong Kong's half and waiting for the penalties - fly-half Nick Little's trusty boot converted four of them and along with a try, they were never in any danger of loosening their grip on the game.

But the crowd booed, unhappy to see Fiji take the option of the boot.

'I don't know what the people expected . . . we had scored 24 tries in three games,' said Johnstone.

But yesterday, the tries were harder to come by. Testament to Hong Kong's gutsy performance.