Author: simon

Anna Richards Picks Experienced Women’s Squad

Kwong-Sau-in-Qingdao-2015

Two years ago, at the first ever hosting of an Asia Rugby Sevens Series event in Hong Kong, the HK women’s team beat Japan in the semi-finals to reach their first ever Cup final, losing there to China 38-7.

Women’s Sevens coach Anna Richards is hoping to capitalise on home field advantage again as the ARW7s opens today at the HK Football Club. Richards has picked an experienced side for this week’s competition with the objective of going one step further at team’s home event and lifting the trophy..

“Marky (Komar, Women’s Sevens assistant coach), and I are very happy with the make-up of the side. We had almost everyone to choose from and we chose the side we thought would get us a win in the first leg,” said Richards as the squad trained. The squad has a familiar feel to it with captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi once again leading from the front while Aggie Poon Pak-yan and Natasha Olson-Thorne will provide a potent force out wide.

Hong Kong are the second seeds in Pool A tomorrow behind Japan and ahead of Singapore and Guam. Pool B features China, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka.

While Hong Kong beat Japan in their last outing at the HK Women’s Rugby Sevens in March, Richards says the stakes have grown for all the teams in the intervening months and expects a stiffer challenge from the Asian champions tomorrow who will be looking to improve on their disappointing Olympics where they finished tenth.

“We’re six months down the track from that win, and Japan have brought their top side here this weekend. They are no longer a core team on the international series so like all the teams here they will need to finish in the top two in the Asian Series to gain entry to the Women’s World Series qualifiers. I see a lot of their top girls in their squad for this weekend, which is what we want. It’s always good to play Japan no matter what and we want to face their best.”

A strong day one will be essential and Richards is pleased that the opportunity will come in front of a friendly audience. “It is always nice to start a competition like this at home. It is only our third tournament of the year so the girls are excited. We have done a lot of training, but haven’t played in a lot of tournaments. The girls are keen to get out there. They love to play in Hong Kong in front of their families,” said Richards.

A positive start is a priority for Richards who recalled that Hong Kong’s impressive finish in 2014 was nearly derailed by a sluggish start. “In 2014 we had a poor first day. We just snuck into the semis on goal difference as we drew with Thailand. Then on day two we had a great win over Japan but didn’t do so well against China in the final.

“That was the first time the girls had won silver, but I would like to emulate last year’s Season opener in Qingdao when we played really well to win our first Cup on the Series.” Hong Kong beat China convincingly in the final 24-15 in Qingdao to claim their first ever Asia Rugby Sevens Series event title. “Qingdao was really a watershed moment for the girls and I would like to carry on from there,” said Richards.

The Asian Sevens Series serves a qualifier for the global qualification tournament for the Women’s World Sevens Series with invites handed out to the top two finishers.

Hong Kong Women’s Sevens Squad (Asia Rugby Sevens Series – Hong Kong): Cheng Ka-Chi, Christy (Captain); Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain); Nam Ka-Man; Candy Cheng Tsz-Ting; Aggie Poon Pak-Yan; Sham Wai-Sum; Colleen Tjosvold; Kwong Sau-Yan; Li Nim-Yan, Melody; Chong Ka-Yan, Adrienne Garvey, Yuen Lok-Yee.

Asia Rugby Sevens Series
Date: 2-3 September, 2016
Venue: HK Football Club
Tickets: Free
More info: public entry via Happy Valley infield, via the tunnel near the HK Racing Museum
Live stream: http://www.youtube.com/c/AsiaRugbylive/live

Additional reporting and photo: HKRU

Ireland Lead Hong Kong by 278

Tanwir-Afzal-v-Ireland

Ireland maintained the upper hand on day three despite the Belfast weather playing havoc with the day’s cricket. When bad light eventually stopped play for the final time, Ireland had reached 199-6 from 51 overs, with an overall lead of 278.

As in the first innings Hong Kong fought hard keeping the hosts honest after Ireland had reached 101-1 and were looking to set up a day three declaration.

The hopes for a result in what’s a pretty tight match were hindered by the loss of 45 due to the on-off showers that frustrated throughout the day.

The day’s highlight for Hong Kong were two wickets in successive overs from 18-year-old debutant Tanveer Ahmed (2-22) with two short pitched deliveries. While Tanwir Afzal (2-36) picked up two wickets, including the important scalp of in-form Gary Wilson for 25 on what proved to be the last ball of the day.

For Ireland, John Anderson batted superbly including some deft reverse sweeps in making 59.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evk1-lpyPcY

Tanwir Afzal on Day 3
“I think we recovered well – in the first innings we leaked runs with the new ball but we executed our plans well today” Afzal said.

After not such a good start in the first innings, I’ve bowled better and I just tried to contain the runs and bowl in the right areas. It was great for Tanveer to pick up a couple of wickets as well, I’m happy for him. He’s a talented young bowler.”

“Personally, I feel our spinners have bowled well in both innings and spun the ball a lot but when the Irish spinners bowled it didn’t turn as much so hopefully it plays the same for tomorrow. There’s a bit of movement with the new ball so our openers will need to survive.”

“They will be looking for another 30 or 40 runs, but we batted well in the first innings and we have big man Babar who will be ready to fire. I think we are still in the game if we can get the last four wickets quickly.”

“It was a really tough day with the weather making the ball wet and it was quite dark and tricky for batsmen and fielders to pick up the ball. Both teams are looking to win the game and hopefully the rain stays away tomorrow to give us a chance.”

HK v Ireland Day 3

Additional reporting and scorecard: HK Cricket, Cricinfo

Tapi Project, Wonderful Gig at Orange Peel – 31 August, 2016

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/The-Tapi-Project-Orange-Peel/i-BJ2mhXD

Indian band the Tapi Project are currently touring Hong Kong to promote their eponymous debut album, read bc’s interview with the band here.
The four piece performed a set of original indie folk songs from their album and covers, including Nina Simone’s Feeling Good and Chis Isaak’s Wicked Games, to a highly appreciate audience at Orange Peel on Thursday night and have two more gigs at Foxglove (2 September) and the Wanch (8 September) before they head home.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/The-Tapi-Project-Orange-Peel/i-sTrBdwG

https://youtu.be/ajFq230bOpM

Blue Grand Opening Party – 31 August, 2016

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Blue-Grand-Opening-Party-31/i-hkT85gp

The latest Maximal Concepts outlet Blue at 108 Hollywood Road celebrated with a Grand Opening party, 31 August, 2016.
Click on any photo for the full gallery

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Blue-Grand-Opening-Party-31/i-JTC5ckt

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Blue-Grand-Opening-Party-31/i-5zqZ4tD

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Blue-Grand-Opening-Party-31/i-GfMmBpb

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Blue-Grand-Opening-Party-31/i-VtmcnLD

Anshuman Rath and Nizakat Khan Half-Centuries Lead Hong Kong

hk v Ireland day two scorecard

An attritional second days play means Hong Kong will have to overcome a first innings deficit of 79 after being dismissed for 237 on day two of their Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland.

After losing two wickets in the first over of the day, two quality innings from Anshuman Rath (73*) and Nizakat Khan (69) were the highlight for Hong Kong who grafted all day long but lost wickets in bunches.

A partnership of 101 between Nizakat and debutant Ninad Shah (38) repaired the initial damage, while Waqas Khan (27) was the only other player to reach double figures.

Rath was left unbeaten at the other end when Tanveer Ahmed was the last man dismissed with just 8 balls left in the day.

The Ireland bowlers were relentless all day with spinner George Dockrell (3-46) and Peter Chase (3-50) the pick of the bowlers.

Play will resume at 6pm HKT with some rain forecast for the final two days in Belfast.

https://youtu.be/HRZKvacUlUQ

Interview with Nizakat Khan
“Yeh we fought hard and just tried to hang in there after losing the two early wickets. When I was out there with Ninad we were just talking to each other a lot out there to urge each other to hang in there.”

“Their bowling was very disciplined and we got no loose balls, so we had to work really hard to score runs and they have bowled to their plans, which have succeeded most of time.”

“I think we are still short of runs and we wanted to get closer to them so tomorrow is crucial for us. We have to take early wickets so can give ourselves a score to chase down.”

“I’m pretty happy with myself – although I was looking for a big score. I was playing really well which was pleasing after I’ve worked really hard with the batting coaches in Hong Kong on a few things. And I felt really good so hopefully I will get a big score in the second innings.”

“Anshy played really well – his innings was what we really needed but unfortunately no one stuck with him. He played to the conditions and looked solid. His innings at the end there has kept us in the game.”

Additional reporting HK Cricket Association, scorecard Cricinfo

bc magazine 22 Today – Happy Birthday!

bc magazine issue 1 cover

1 September 2016 marks the 22nd Anniversary of the launch of bc magazine – what an amazing experience it has been – highs, lows, depths of despair, top of the world… Massive thanks are owed to far too many people for me to list individual contributors for fear of missing out someone – but without the massive contributions of Tom Hallahan and Mark Fitzsimons, bc might never have been born or made it to your hands.

A big thank to all the advertisers over the years who have made bc possible.

And a big thank you to you the readers – it’s a really rather wonderful emotion to watch people turn the pages and read and enjoy a magazine you’ve been a part of creating… Thank you!

Bowlers Keep Hong Kong in the Hunt Against Ireland

https://youtu.be/G64dggcXicI

Hong Kong fought hard to keep Ireland honest on the first of their four day ICC Intercontinental Cup clash in Belfast.

The hosts, who won the toss and chose to bat reached 124-2 before Hong Kong battled back well, on a turning pitch, to dismiss Ireland for 316 just before close of play. At stumps the tourists were 2 without loss. Hong Kong’s two spinners found some turn with Nadeem Ahmed taking 4-73 before paceman Tanwir Afzal removed Ireland’s lower order to finished with 4-63.

Ehsan Khan, who along with Ninad Shah, Waqas Khan and Tanveer Ahmed, made his first class debut took a wicket in just his second over.

HK v Ireland August 2016

Post-match interview with Nadeem Ahmed
“I think we started poorly but we came back really well after lunch. I think the boys pulled it back and that was really good to see. It was challenging as they know the conditions and knew what to expect so we had to fight hard. Cooky (coach Simon Cook) pumped us up during the lunch break and we stood up to the challenge. To bowl them out for 316 is good but we gave away about 50 runs on this wicket, which we shouldn’t have done.”

“It was turning a lot for the first day and gradually started to turn more and more as the day went on. When the team need you, you need to stand up and be counted on. Today was a day where I needed to stand up as the wicket suited me and things went well. I just tried to bowl tight overs and be more consistent and it started to turn a lot.”

“We’ve got good players of spin and they have only one front line spinner so this could be something that gives us a small advantage. Both openers did well to stick in there until the end.”

“This performance means a lot to us and to Hong Kong. We are in a good position so hopefully we can keep it going.”

Asia Adult Expo

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Asia-Adult-Expo-2016/i-vnq5Pwb

It’s Asia Adult Expo time where China’s sex toy manufacturers showcase their products to stores and buyers from across the globe. The wholesale prices are ridiculously cheap, a stark reminder of the margins involved in much of retail today.

https://youtu.be/KofNsG9epAU

In recent years a lot of creativity, thought, science and manufacturing wizardry has gone into improving and enhancing how we can bring ourselves and our partners pleasure. Although I’m not sure that many of us will be wanting to fiddle with a phone app in the middle of an orgasm… And a first person perspective 3D VR film loses it’s impact when as is legally required in Japan genitals are pixelated out.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Asia-Adult-Expo-2016/i-Sr9XC4s

At any other product expo, visitors to the show would be touching, examining the products to check for quality, design… Yet still society’s taboo on pleasuring ourselves and others exerts it’s influence with most visitors discretely looking from outside a booth rather than stepping in as they would with other product expos.

If you don’t fancy a visit to sex store but want to improve your sex life most of the manufacturers have websites where you can buy direct through Alibaba.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2016/Asia-Adult-Expo-2016/i-dFRJpkH

Asia Adult Expo
Date: 28-31 August 2016
Venue: HK Convention & Exhibition Centre
Tickets: By invitation, trade