HSBC SVNS Series: Hong Kong men out of qualification running after Cape Town flop
Women’s team also condemned to second successive fight for ninth spot, despite avenging Czech Republic loss
The Hong Kong men’s rugby sevens team suffered an embarrassing early Challenger Series exit on Friday, after flopping in both their pool matches for the second successive week.
Losses to Madagascar and Canada in Cape Town last week had left Hong Kong down in ninth place, and in a fight to stay in the competition, let alone achieve the top-four finish that would have earned a shot at HSBC SVNS Series qualification.
In the same South African city, Hong Kong opened up a 17-0 half-time lead over Japan in their opening match, after tries from Max Denmark and Harry Sayers sandwiched a score for captain James Christie.
Shotaro Tsuoka crossed to get Japan on the board, but with four minutes remaining and a 17-7 lead, Hong Kong should have been home and hosed.
What followed was six minutes that torched the city team’s season. Tsuoka added his second try, then, after the hooter had sounded, Kota Nakama crossed on the right to draw Japan level, before converting to condemn Hong Kong to a 19-17 loss.
As a result, head coach Jevon Groves’s team had to beat a Chile side that won last week’s first leg for any chance of a place in Saturday’s semi-finals.