Hong Kong beat Japan in Mumbai to become top side in Asia
Rees’ warriors win Mumbai Sevens to lay past demons to rest and be anointed regional champions for first time
The ghosts of many sevens finals past were laid to rest as Hong Kong exorcised their demons with a superb 28-7 victory over Japan in yesterday's final of the Mumbai Sevens to be crowned Asian champions for the first time in their history.
An inspirational performance from Tom McQueen, whose three tries in a narrow quarter-final victory over Sri Lanka saved the blushes, allowed Hong Kong to finish the HSBC Asian Sevens Series as the No 1 team in the region. Hong Kong claimed two of the three titles - the Shanghai Sevens last month and yesterday's triumph at the Bombay Gymkhana Club.
Unlike in recent meetings where Hong Kong were reduced to six men - like at this year's Hong Kong Sevens, the 2010 Asian Games gold medal match, as well as this season's Borneo Sevens final - to end on the losing side, the Mumbai team proved they had learned their lessons well and produced a disciplined performance.
The scores were tired 7-7 at half-time with Alex McQueen touching down early. Hong Kong's superior fitness and conditioning, and good use of the five-strong bench - with the International Rugby Board allowing all five substitutes to be used instead of three as in the past - allowed the Rowan Varty-led side to stretch their lead. Three more unanswered tries from the outstanding Jamie Hood, Kwok Ka-chun and Ant Haynes gave Hong Kong the landmark win.
The victory will see Hong Kong qualify for the core-team tournament with the big guns at next year's Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as well as book a ticket to the London Sevens in May. But Rees wants more.
"Strange as it may seem, despite this magnificent performance we have still not achieved our main goal which we set at the outset of this season, which is to qualify for the World Cup Sevens in Moscow next year," Rees said.