Hurt goes on: Brave Hong Kong bow to Japan in Asian sevens qualifier for Olympics
Gareth Baber’s men give the regional champions a big scare before the visitors secure place at Rio - now local hopes lie with a tough repêchage to come
The clock said 10 minutes to go but it must have been an eternity for Hong Kong as nemisis Japan rallied in the second half to secure automatic qualification for the Olympics with a 24-10 victory in the final of the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifier on Sunday.
At half-time, Hong Kong were up 10-0 in the men's clash at Hong Kong Stadium, through tries to Alex McQueen and captain Max Woodward. After cruising through the group stages without a point scored against them, the Japanese suddenly were all fumbles and struggling to breach a swarming defence.
We'll hurt for a few days and then we'll realise we have to learn from it. The game doesn’t suddenly stop. You’ve got to take the learning out of it and progress
But a four-try second half - with Japan's big guns of Lemeki Lomano, Teruya Goto, Katsuyuki Sakai and Kazuhiro Goya all finding the line - extinguished the Olympic dreams for Hong Kong - for the moment at least.
There's a repêchage set for next June that will feature 16 teams from regional qualifiers and offering one last place in Rio. Hong Kong will be joined there by South Korea and Sri Lanka after the Koreans won the third-place play-off 26-19.
Hong Kong coach Gareth Baber was matter-of-fact after another crucial loss to the Japanese, and the road ahead.
"That'll be tough," he said of the repêchage. "We'll hurt for a few days and then we'll realise we have to learn from it.