Hong Kong Sevens 2024: Yiu pleased to prove point for Chinese players, as successor Fong scores twice in final win

Salom Yiu Kam-shing could not hold back the tears after what was likely to be his last Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

Yiu and his Hong Kong teammates rounded off the 36-year-old’s 14-year affiliation with the tournament in style, in the shape of a stunning 22-10 victory over Japan to win the Melrose Claymore competition.

The city’s men’s team had lost 33-14 to the same opponents a day earlier, but their victory second time around was rarely in doubt. They powered to a 22-0 lead through a pair of tries by Fong Kit-fung, sandwiched between one each from Bryn Phillips and Hugo Stiles.

Japan’s Kippei Taninaka did all he could with two tries of his own, but it was too little, too late.

Hong Kong lost 24-10 to China in the women’s Melrose final. Chong Ka-yan, with her third try in as many matches over the three days, joined Chan Tsz-ching in touching down.

“We set out to reach the final and we did,” Chong said. “We wanted to win in front of our home crowd in our last game here, but it was not to be.”