Mini-marvel Rowan Varty made a stunning home debut, scoring two superbly executed tries as Hong Kong easily defeated an under-strength China 27-9 in a one-off international on the artificial strip at King's Park yesterday.
On his Hong Kong debut a fortnight ago, in Singapore, the 18-year-old winger came on as a substitute for the last 10 minutes of the match and watched in frustration as the ball never travelled down the line. It was so different yesterday.
Firstly, Varty started on the left wing, and hardly a minute had lapsed when he got his first touch of the ball on the international stage. And he made the most of it when he brilliantly rounded two Chinese defenders to score after a 20-metre run.
'My coaches Ivan [Torpey] and Terry [Hart] had been telling me all week to have a go if I got the ball. And when I got the ball I decided to do just that and have a go. I was really happy just to start and to score a try with my first touch of the ball was absolutely brilliant,' said an ecstatic Varty.
Inside centre Andrew Wong Kee began the move that ended in Varty's try. A short sharp burst from Wong Kee took play into Chinese territory. The ball was quickly recycled from the ensuing breakdown and fellow-centre Jason Going sliced the defence before passing to Varty just inside the 22. Varty, judging his run superbly, slipped past his opposite number and then rounded a last defender to score a try he will long remember.
'It was like a dream come true for I had scored in front of my family and friends. I like playing at King's Park. I started playing rugby here, first for Kai Tak Mini Rugby Club and then for DeA. I can't believe I'm now playing for Hong Kong,' said Varty.
He capped his dream home debut by scoring a second try early in the second half when he formed the overlap to score unopposed under the posts. Those two tries coupled with the fact that he played the whole game speaks volumes for the faith the Hong Kong management had in the teenager yesterday.