Hong Kong edged one step closer to winning the Pacific Rim Championship yesterday after they held on to score a narrow 17-16 win over Japan in Tokyo yesterday.
Hong Kong trailed Japan 10-13 at half-time, but a try two minutes into the second half by scrum-half Sean O'Hara was enough to give them the lead, which they hung on to despite concerted Japanese pressure.
The victory avenged Hong Kong's only loss in the tournament so far - the 38-31 defeat last month by Japan at the Aberdeen Stadium - and also gave the SAR a valuable four points to keep them at the top of the four-team standings.
Defending champions Canada defeated the United States 37-3 at Burlington, Vermont on Saturday to stay just one point adrift of Hong Kong who are currently on 14 points.
It has set up a showdown confrontation this Saturday (Sunday morning HK time) in Vancouver.
This game is likely to decide the champions this year - and Hong Kong will be going all out to win it.