Women’s rugby: Hong Kong beat Kazakhstan with last kick in dramatic 2nd test
- Aileen Ryan converts from the touchline in the dying seconds to steal 14-12 win, as Hong Kong show character in coming back from 12-0 down
- It gives Hong Kong a 2-0 series victory in their first matches in three years
Last week cruise control, this week a great escape, as Aileen Ryan snatched victory for Hong Kong with the last kick of the game.
Kazakhstan had led all the way in the second of two tests at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday, only for Zoe Smith’s try and Ryan’s conversion from the touchline in blustery conditions to make it 14-12, turning the tables in dramatic fashion.
The visitors had the stand-out player in Lyudmila Sherer, whose try against the run of play at the end of a cagey first half prevented it finishing scoreless and seemed to sap the home team’s resolve. Only at the death did they recover.
With a number of kicks from hand drifting off-course, and fly half Ryan seeing an early penalty attempt blown wide, keeping ball in hand was the smart option, even if gains of single-digit metres were the norm. Bucking that trend was full back Vivian Poon Hoi-yan when she darted infield with her trademark step before encountering traffic.
After a period of patiently working through phases, Hong Kong went wide. A pass went to ground and was hacked upfield, but that hiccup opened the door to a highlight of the half.