Canada were crowned as champions of the inaugural Pacific Rim Championship after an absolutely ruthless performance swept them to a 57-9 win over Hong Kong at the Thunderbird Stadium yesterday morning (Hong Kong time).
The home team scored seven tries to totally annihilate Hong Kong, who suffered one of their worst defeats in recent times. The match was an absolute disaster for the tourists, who trailed 20-3 at the end of the first quarter, and from then on were forced to play catch-up rugby. With their international reputation at stake, the Canadians were always going to be ruthless. The message had been hammered into them before the game that a convincing win was needed to placate the home fans' disappointment over the 74-9 drubbing they received at the hands of Australia a week ago.
'I told the guys that a loss today would harm Canadian rugby in the eyes of the world,' a delighted coach Ian Birtwell said. He was perhaps thinking of the first leg result when Hong Kong ran the Canadians close before losing 18-12.
Hong Kong hopes of a repeat performance were dashed from the outset as Canada - fielding a full-strength side for the first time this season - struck quickly.
Roger Patterson and his men never recovered from two tries in the first 20 minutes. Both were the result of Hong Kong mistakes.
The first Canadian try came after both sides had traded penalties. Canada, kicking off after Rick Muik had put Hong Kong on level terms, were gifted a lineout near the territory's goal line when Muik, fielding the ball, shouted for mark and, realising he could not do that off a kick off, hacked the ball desperately into touch which was inside his own 22. Canada, who dominated the lineouts and scrums throughout, won the ball and half-back John Graf made a clever blindside break and passed to tighthead prop Rod Snow to easily touch down. The second try was a result of an intercepted pass.
