Home team in shock as Japan gatecrash Hong Kong's Pac Rim party

SOMEONE should have informed Japan that it was meant to be happy hour at the end of yesterday's Pacific Rim Championship rugby union game at the Aberdeen Stadium.

The visitors spoiled the party thrown by Foster's and the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union which, flushed with the success of the past fortnight, had hoped for another happy ending. But the Japanese, those famous party-poopers as Hong Kong well know from past Asian tournaments and this year's Hong Kong Sevens, pulled the plug with a scintillating 38-31 victory.

The defeat will severely dent Hong Kong's hopes of winning the Pac Rim for the first time. Instead of finishing their home games with an unbeaten record and possibly 13 points, Hong Kong have been reined back and are now on 10 points.

They remain on top of the four-team standings. But for how long? 'Every now and again you get a wake-up call and today we certainly got one,' said a disappointed coach Phil Campbell, who now faces the tough task of securing victory on the away leg.

Hong Kong certainly seemed to be in a slumber for most of the first half yesterday, during which time a wind-assisted Japan side scored four tries and led 26-6 by the break.

Faced with a mountain to climb, Hong Kong came back superbly in the second half with tries from Nigel D'Acre, Roger Leeson and skipper Paul Dingley - the latter's try giving Hong Kong a crucial bonus point for finishing within seven points. But, frustratingly, the fightback fell short with Japan sneaking two more tries between Hong Kong's comeback efforts.