Plate runners-up Hong Kong finish sixth at Women’s Sevens Series qualifiers

Hong Kong finished a creditable sixth in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifying tournament in Dublin on Sunday after losing 21-5 to South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals.

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Aggie Poon Pak-yan – scorer of eight Hong Kong tries at the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifiers in Dublin at the weekend – runs into the South African defence. Photos: World Rugby

Published: 9:45am, 24 Aug 2015Updated: 2:05pm, 31 Aug 2018

Hong Kong finished a creditable sixth in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series qualifying tournament after losing 21-5 to South Africa in the Cup quarter-finals in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday.

The loss meant Hong Kong were eliminated from contention for one of two spots up for grabs for the 2015-16 world series.

Hong Kong enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but could not break down a solid South African defence and their only score was a breakaway effort from speedster Aggie Poon Pak-yan, who scored eight tries during the weekend.

Hong Kong went on to beat China 14-10 in a Plate semi-final to advance to the Plate decider against Brazil, but that match proved a bridge too far with the 2016 Rio Olympic hosts winning 17-0.

Ireland’s Alison Miller proved too hot to handle in Saturday’s pool stages as she ran in four tries against Hong Kong.

Hong Kong turned in a gritty but composed performance against China, who played all of last season on the global circuit and along with South Africa were relegated at the end of the year, jumping out to a 7-0 lead at half-time after Poon capped an excellent line-break from centre Natasha Olson-Thorne.

Forward Christy Cheng Ka-chi, standing in as captain for the injured Royce Chan Leong-sze, nabbed Hong Kong’s other score midway through the second half.

China got over twice near the end of the match but they were let down by missed conversions and never really threatened Hong Kong’s control of the game.