South America rugby tour: Hong Kong bounce back from narrow Chile loss to thrash Paraguay
- Head coach Andrew Douglas’ team, who claimed their fourth victory from five matches in 2024, will wrap up the tour with clash against Brazil
Hong Kong delivered a merciless 12-try performance to thump Paraguay 80-12 and claim a first victory on their South American tour on Sunday.
Head coach Andrew Douglas’s team were narrowly beaten in their opening game last week against Chile. Paraguay, however, are ranked No 38 in the world, 17 places beneath the Chileans and 14 behind Hong Kong.
Douglas had taken the opportunity to rest a number of regular starters for next Sunday’s meeting with world No 29 team Brazil. Among those brought into the team was Kowloon prop James Holmes, who was handed a debut two days after his 28th birthday.
“It means the world to me,” Holmes said. “It has been a long road to get here … hopefully, it is the first of many. It was a physical game, against some big Paraguayans, but we stuck to our game plan and were pretty clinical.”
Hong Kong’s express start punctured a partisan atmosphere in Asuncion. Alex Post and Josh Hrstich scored early tries, before Matt Worley went over twice in quick succession. When Ben Axten-Burrett touched down for Hong Kong’s fifth score after 17 minutes, increasing the visitors’ advantage to 33-0, the game was essentially dead as a contest.
A yellow card for captain Hrstich opened the door for Paraguay to get on the board, through Ramiro Amarilla. Charlie Higson-Smith and Post, again, went over to give Douglas’ side a 47-7 half-time lead.
