Hong Kong got a huge boost in their build-up to the East Asian Games when they defeated South Korea 14-12 despite resting three key players for the final pool game at the Borneo Sevens in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.
Although missing skipper Jeff Wong - out with an injured shoulder picked up in the first game against Brunei - as well as Rowan Varty (dead leg) and Kwok Ka-chun (hand injury), Hong Kong still had enough firepower to come from behind and edge the Koreans, who will be one of the fancied teams at the East Asian Games sevens competition at the Hong Kong Stadium next month.
Ed Haynes, superbly covering for Varty, was instrumental in both of Hong Kong's tries, scoring the first and then creating the second for Mark Wright.
'We're very pleased with the win. It was a hard fought match, and with the injuries we have been having we were really down to 10 men,' Hong Kong head coach Dai Rees said.
Hong Kong had earlier cruised to a 62-5 victory over Brunei and a 38-14 win over Guam.
They will today play in the Cup competition in the 12-team event.
