THE Chinese Dragons take on Hongkong Police in the quarter-finals of the Plate competition of the Jonah Jones Sevens in Kuala Lumpur today. The Dragons won one match and lost the other two in yesterday's preliminary rounds, failing to enter the Cup competition after finishing third in their group. All their matches were against Malaysian opposition. They beat Komando Malaka 22-0 in their first match with Chris Chung Pak-kee and Marshall To Mei-lun scoring two tries each. But they lost 12-0 to the Royal Selangor Club and 28-7 to eventual group winners Police United. Prop Rambo Leung Yung-kit scored the Dragons' only try against Police United. The Hongkong Police lost all their preliminary matches. Dragons coach Greg Whitmore said the side suffered in 35-degree heat and may have to go into the second and final day of competition without key players Alex Fong Wah and skipper Chung. Said Whitmore: ''Alex had a great first match, but then suffered from heat exhaustion. It does not look like he will play in the quarter-finals. ''Chris picked up a hamstring injury, so we don't know if he can play. ''It's a bit disappointing. I was hoping that we would get to at least the semi-finals of the Cup competition.'' Meanwhile, the Hongkong national squad's normal carbohydrate-only diet prior to a major event has been altered to include lean meat. Mimi Sham, a dietitian consultant with the Hongkong Sports Institute, has provided the squad with a specially-designed menu to be started about three days before the World Cup Sevens in Scotland from the 16-18. Portions of chicken and lean meat will be allowed, unlike the preparations for last year's Sicily Sevens and the Asian Championship, when the players were restricted to pasta, potatoes and bread. Team manager Peter Burbidge-King said: ''As long as there is no fat in the meat, it is alright.'' The 10-man squad leave on Saturday and had a rigorous workout at the Police Boundary Street yesterday. Captain Craig Pain only had a light run-out because of a thigh strain but will rejoin the fray in a couple of days.
