Hong Kong Sevens: hosts savour double joy as fans ‘blow lid off’ Kai Tak Stadium
City’s men recover from early setback to beat China, while women rally to overcome Kazakhstan
Hong Kong gave their jubilant supporters cause for cheer by recording twin triumphs on the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Competing in the secondary Melrose Claymores tournament, the city’s women scored five tries in a 29-14 win over Kazakhstan on Friday.
For the men, Max Denmark led the way with a hat-trick, as head coach Jevon Groves’ team survived an early hiccup to blow away China 31-7. Harry Sayers and James Kee, on his debut, also crossed for Hong Kong.
Sayers felt that the atmosphere inside the new host venue at Kai Tak Sports Park had surpassed that created for Hong Kong Stadium’s farewell tournament 12 months ago. Women’s star Chong Ka-yan, who scored twice, added that there was a “concert-like” mood.
After scoring his team’s second try, Sayers said: “[The noise] was incredible … it blew the lid off. It’s a great opportunity to play here, but we also want to inspire the next generation – we want this [tournament] to carry on forever.”
Playing for the first time since this month’s poor Challenger Series campaign in Cape Town cost them a chance of HSBC SVNS Series promotion, Hong Kong conceded a first-minute try to Song Boyang.