His nickname is 'Goldfish'. If there were more players like Leung Chi-ming, Hong Kong would have emerged victorious against Sri Lanka in the opening encounter at the Asian Under-19 Championships in Colombo yesterday.
Hooker Leung, who plays for DeA in the local First Division, played out of his skin but it was all in vain as the SAR fell 15-12 in their opening game in the Cup championship at a nearly empty Sugathadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka led 12-0 at half-time after two pushover tries, but went to sleep. Hong Kong staged a comeback, with Leung leading from the front, but fell short of what would have been a remarkable victory.
The tireless loose play of Leung will, however, be a positive Hong Kong can take away from the game. In the 90kg teenager, Hong Kong seem to have found a genuine front-row prospect for the future.
'He put in a 70-minute performance,' said coach Andrew Tranent. 'If only we had more like him.' Santa Claus has obviously not given Tranent what he wants for Christmas, especially in the forwards.
Hong Kong had feared that they would be found out in the pack and so it proved as the heavier and superior Sri Lankan forwards ground out two tries, both as a result of driving play from close-range lineouts.