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Two-try Tu'ivai in doubt for Asian tournament after injury

KEY Hong Kong player Isi Tu'ivai could miss the start of the Asian tournament in Malaysia later this month after dislocating his collarbone during yesterday's 37-5 victory over Northern Territory.

Winger Tu'ivai had scored two tries before coming off injured following a midfield tackle. He went to hospital for an X-ray, but doctors on the spot feared he could be out for the first game against South Korea on October 23.

'It's 50-50 if he will be fit for the Korea game,' said Hong Kong captain Stuart Krohn. 'He is a key player, but we will have to deal with it. If I know Isi, he will be playing at some time during the tournament - it will take a lot to keep him off the field.' Hong Kong coach George Simpkin also has to find a reliable kicker for the four-match championship, which doubles as a qualifier for next year's World Cup in South Africa. Neil Munn, drafted into the side for his ability with the boot, failed with six attempts out of nine and handed responsibility for the final conversion attempt to scrum-half Stephen Kidd, who also missed the mark.

Hong Kong, missing several regular forwards, did not win as convincingly as last week when the pack laid the foundation for a 45-5 victory. After scoring two excellent tries in the first nine minutes they took their foot off the accelerator and Northern Territory held their own for the remainder of the first half.

After a half-time talking to from Simpkin, more ball was won for the backs and they scored several stylish tries.

'It was pretty untidy overall but a win is a win,' said Krohn. 'We started out with two quick tries and thought things were going to be easy. But Northern Territory were quality opposition and you have got to keep going. They were winning all the ball in the first half and we could not get it tight up front.

'We would have liked a better performance in our final game before the Asian tournament, but we'll settle for a win.' Krohn scored the try of the match early in the first half with Hong Kong leading 5-0 from an Ashley Billington score in the corner. The captain won the ball at the back of the lineout inside his own half and after a surging break from Vaughan Going and some good handling by the backs, he was out wide to finish off the move.

Centre Rodney McIntosh also showed his ability with a classy second-half try. He passed to Going and looped his fellow centre before taking the return pass and cutting inside to score by the posts.

Robin Bredbury, playing at full-back so that Munn could be tried out at fly-half, won plus marks in the style stakes with a Fijian-style flick pass to put Tu'ivai over for his first try.

Flanker John Dingley and hooker Dave Lewis were the pick of the forwards on a day when Hong Kong's trademark driving maul was little in evidence.

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