Clashes with Tonga, PNG a boost for Hong Kong, says Baber

Hong Kong will benefit from "pitting wits" against Tonga and Papua New Guinea at the Borneo Sevens, which reaches a climax on Sunday with Jamie Hood's men in the Cup semi-finals.

The Pacific Islanders are chasing the same dream as Hong Kong of becoming a core team in the HSBC Sevens World Series next season.

Hong Kong, who narrowly beat PNG 19-14 in their pool game on Saturday night, will meet the same opponents in the last four of the Cup.

Hong Kong trailed 0-14 before tries by Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Rowan Varty and Michael Coverdale clinched victory over a six-man PNG. The other semi is between Tonga and Sri Lanka.

With Tonga and PNG among the 12 teams in the World Series qualiifer at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens later this month, the trip to Kota Kinabalu has given head coach Gareth Baber invaluable insight into his rivals' game while also providing his sevens squad with useful hit-outs.

"There is good quality in both those teams and they have played on the World Series recently as well," Baber said.

"I think the physicality they bring to their game is something perhaps we haven't been used to in the Asian Series and this is why we are here to pit wits against them and to make sure that we have everything in order coming into the Hong Kong Sevens."

Hong Kong lost 21-19 to Tonga on Friday, finishing second to them in the pool after wins over the rest of the field in the preliminary round - Singapore (47-0), Sri Lanka (38-0), China (24-19) and PNG.