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HONG KONG celebrated the finest hour of its rugby union history by drubbing Japan 33-9 in the return leg of the Pacific Rim Championship at the Aberdeen Stadium yesterday.

  It might not have been champagne rugby but Hong Kong, playing to their strengths, wore down the reigning Asian champions through sheer forward power to score their first win over the Japanese since 1979.

  The magnificent victory may usher in a new era for the territory, who for so long have played second fiddle to Asian powers Japan and South Korea.

  Earlier this year, Hong Kong defeated Korea in two Tests at home.

   Yesterday's resounding win - Hong Kong scored three tries to none - must enhance their chances of winning a first Asian crown later this year in Taiwan.

  Winning the region's top title in November and then, in 1998, being in with a realistic chance of qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, are all thoughts to savour.

   For the moment, however, Hong Kong can bask in the glory of defeating a team which has been dominant in the past.

  That power was a distant memory yesterday as Hong Kong outplayed the Japanese in all departments, especially in the forwards with match-winning backrowers Duane Davis, Rick Shuttleworth and John Dingley outstanding.

  A far more committed performance from this trio - streets ahead of last week's 34-27 loss in Tokyo - laid the foundation for the territory's driving play from the back of the scrum.

  Hong Kong captain and lock forward Roger Patterson rose to the occasion as did his ever-reliable second row partner Stuart Krohn. The front row of Rob Grindlay, hooker Alan Clark and Dave Lewis solidly provided the base for a steady scrum, the fount of Hong Kong's relentless attacking play.

  'Our game plan worked. We played far better than the last occasion, but the Japanese seemed to have got worse,' said a pleased Patterson.

  Hong Kong coach George Simpkin put the triumph down to discipline.

   'At last we are playing as a disciplined outfit. But I don't know if this is our best performance,' Simpkin said.

  Number 8 Davis was the battering ram as Hong Kong kept play tight and used the abundant possession wisely. The pony-tailed Davis superbly kept the Japanese on the back foot, going across the gain line with his charging runs. And with loose-forwards Shuttleworth and Dingley matching him, the territory never lost momentum.

  The support play of Clark and Patterson was outstanding. Quick to the breakdown, they matched the driving commitment and burrowing skills of the flankers.

  In the backs, fly-half Vaughan Going and full-back Rick Muik had great games. Going scored the first try and created the second one for Dingley. He was quick to see an opportunity and was tigerish in tackles.

  Muik was a transformed player from the one who made his Hong Kong debut in Tokyo. More composed and cool, he put his best foot forward all round.

  He was a rock under the high ball, his defence was solid and his goal-kicking was on target - scoring 18 points with a success rate of seven out of 10.

  The rest of the backs played their part to perfection - completely shutting down the Japanese in midfield.

  The only sour note for Hong Kong was a career-threatening knee injury to centre Rodney McIntosh who was carried off early in the game after a crunching tackle.

  Going's early try and Muik's conversion and two penalties gave Hong Kong a 13-6 lead at half-time with Japan's points coming through the boot of fly-half Keiji Hirose.

  After trading penalties soon after the break. Hong Kong switched into top gear in the last quarter of the match. Dingley completed a characteristic Going blindside break to touch down. In the dying minutes Rob Santos scored the try of the match after the ball was handled sweetly by forwards and backs in a series of surging moves.



HK engine room runs riot against Japanese