Cruellest cut puts HK on back foot

A PIECE of glass embedded in Rick Shuttleworth's left heel has cast a cloud over the Hong Kong camp as they prepare to play their first game on the ambitious tour of South Africa and Namibia today.

Shuttleworth, Hong Kong's dynamic back rower, was taken for a cursory examination to a Durban hospital on Sunday night. It ended in a four-hour operation.

He has carried this piece of glass all the way from Hong Kong to South Africa - having tread on it at the South Island School swimming pool, where he is an instructor.

Although he has taken part in all training sessions held so far, the team management have decided it is better to be safe than sorry, and sent the openside flanker to hospital.

''The doctors said I was wise to come. I wanted to stay till the end of the tour before treating it. But it was becoming more painful every day,'' Shuttleworth said.

After an X-ray had revealed nothing, doctors had decided to cut open his heel. They found an abcess which was drained. He was then given a dose of antibiotics.

''They still did not find the piece of glass, but they are hoping that it would have come out. My foot still feels sore,'' added Shuttleworth.

He has been left out of the squad named to meet Empangeni in the first of the two games in South Africa today. Instead the more-than-capable Tony Hunt has been asked to fill-in.

With all games to be played under floodlights, Hong Kong's second training run on Sunday was under lights.

It was mainly limb-loosening stuff with the emphasis being placed on goal-kicking.

This is an area which seems berefet of talent.

Remembering the good old days when the territory had kickers like Ian Calder or Gary Acheson must be agonising for coach George Simpkin.

Jamie McKee, Vaughan Going, Isi Tu'ivai, Jeff Piper and Andy Fields have been at it, but nothing seems to be coming right at training.

There are more missed kicks than conversions.

Although flyhalf McKee has been left out for the first game, he is certain to play an important role in the other matches, especially the Test against Namibia.

Hong Kong: Vaughan Going, Isi Tu'ivai, Rodney McIntosh, Jeff Piper, Joe Hancock, Robin Bredbury, Stephen Kidd, Stuart Krobn (capt.), Tony Hunt, Will Wild, Roger Patterson, Grant Jamieson, Chris Noth, Dave Lewis, Ashley Jones.