Hong Kong secure Asia Rugby Sevens Series with Max Woodward-inspired semi-final win in Sri Lanka
Gareth Baber’s side play South Korea in the decider of the closing leg having already secured overall victory
Hong Kong secured their second overall Asia Rugby Sevens Series victory in three years in Sri Lanka on Sunday, progressing to the final of the last leg of the series with a 19-7 semi-final win over the hosts.
Passage to the final – where they will play South Korea – was enough to ensure a series win for Hong Kong, who entered the last tournament four points ahead of their nearest rival Sri Lanka.
With the win comes an all-important spot in the world series qualifier in Hong Kong in April next year and valuable exposure against elite-level opposition in the main draw at the 2017 Singapore Sevens the following week.
Hong Kong were forced to work back from a seven-point deficit against Sri Lanka, with captain Max Woodward the catalyst behind the comeback with two tries.
Salom Yiu Kam-shing also scored and Hong Kong will now look to cap a perfect series by winning their third consecutive final.
Hong Kong’s women, though, had no answers for Japan after losing 14-0 to complete a trio of semi-final exits.
They now face Malaysia in the third-place play-off and will finish the series in third overall, behind China and Japan.
