Advertisement
Hong Kong Sevens

Punchless Hong Kong pay for lack of fight

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP

The DJ played Kung Fu Fighting when Hong Kong were on the pitch. It failed to provide inspiration with all the fight being sucked out of a brave, but ultimately powerless Hong Kong squad as they tumbled to defeats at the hands of the physically imposing Kenya and Tunisia yesterday.

A 43-7 loss to Kenya followed by a narrow 17-14 defeat to Tunisia resulted in Hong Kong being relegated to the Bowl competition as the World Cup Sevens reaches its climax today. Hong Kong had been beaten 42-5 by England on the opening day.

The Tunisia game was targeted as the one to win. And at half-time it looked as if all the months of hard work and preparation would pay off as Hong Kong led 14-0 with a brace of tries by Keith Robertson, the first a lovely length-of-the-field effort after he picked up from the base of a scrum on his own lineout, sold a dummy and ran his heart out.

Advertisement

But then it all began to unravel immediately after the break as Tunisia powered their way to three tries, two from winger Amor Mezgar and the match-winning one, a minute from the end, from forward Khaled Zegden. It left Hong Kong's dream in tatters. The barren run of not winning a game in three World Cups is perilously close to being realised today if they are knocked out in the Bowl quarter-finals where they will face Italy.

Disappointed coach Rodney McIntosh was not available for comment.

Advertisement

Hong Kong had looked flat against Kenya. After beginning promisingly, with Rowan Varty crossing the line, they faded in the face of their opponents' power game as they ran in seven tries.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x