After signing a contract extension through 2016 with promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank, Arum confirmed that Manny Pacquiao’s next fight will be in Macau this November. His opponent, probably Juan Manuel Marquez who’s coming off of a big win over Mike Alvarado. If he declines, Top Rank plans to pursue Ruslan Provodnikov or Amir Khan.
Hong Kong aiming high at the Asian Women’s Four Nations Championship 2014 which takes place at Aberdeen Stadium from the 18-24 May. “As hosts, Hong Kong need a top three finish to secure its future of playing against the best in the region and further developing its own game” said head coach Chris Garvey.
The four-team round-robin tournament is the region’s premier women’s 15s competition and features Asia’s number one women’s fifteens side Kazakhstan and second and third seeds Japan and Singapore, it will provide a formidable challenge for the Hong Kong squad. “The more times we pit ourselves against the best in Asia the better for our own game,” said Garvey who continued “While our premier women’s league is good, there is no substitute for playing against the best. To achieve this target, we will have to make sure we finish in the top three in the Asian Four Nations,”
“These are the same opponents we faced in the World Cup qualifiers last year. We fielded an inexperienced team then as none of our sevens squad was involved as they were preparing for the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens. We lost to Singapore on that occasion and we will be hoping to make amends this time. That game will be our final, but we also hope to surprise a few people when we take on Kazakhstan and Japan,” Garvey said.
Gai Wu flanker Christy Cheng Ka-chi will lead a squad which has a settled look about it with more than half of them being part of the first generation of fully professional players who are enrolled at the HKSI in the Rugby Sevens programme. Police prop Clara Cheng Cheuk-yui and Gai Wu second-rower Stephanie Ching Tsz-yung look set to make their Hong Kong debuts during the competition.
Garvey, a PE teacher at Kellett School, paid tribute to the squad, most of them part-timers who devoted themselves to a strenuous build-up. “We had an extended squad in training and it gave me the chance to see a number of new players. We have now picked what we believe are our best combinations and our aim is to see how far we have come and test ourselves against the likes of Kazakhstan,” Garvey said.
Hong Kong will face a stern test meeting Asian champions Kazakhstan on May 18, followed by Japan (May 21) and Singapore (May 24). Kazakhstan, who qualified for the World Cup last year, will present a strong challenge up-front while Japan’s fast backs will offer a different challenge.
“It is good that we will face two different styles before we take on Singapore. It will be fantastic preparation but we are not just focusing on Singapore. We want to make an impact against the other two teams as well,” Garvey said. “We have struggled in the past against them but I believe the gap is closing and with the return of all our sevens players, I’m confident we can push them,” he added.
The Asian Women’s Four Nations championships will be held at Aberdeen Stadium on Sunday (May 18), Wednesday (May 21) and Saturday (May 24). Kick off times are 15.00 and 17.00 for the round robin competition and admission is free.
Hong Kong Squad for the Asian Women’s Four Nations:
CHAN Hoi Ping Emmy (Gai Wu), CHAN Leong Sze Royce (HKFC), CHENG Cheuk Yui (Police), CHENG Ka Chi Christy (captain) (Gai Wu), CHENG Tsz Ting (Gai Wu), CHING Tsz Yung (Gai Wu), FONG, Rose Margaret Siu-Lan (CWB), GORDON, Christine (Valley), HO Hoi Lam (Gai Wu), IAFETA, Elizabeth (Valley), KWONG Sau Yan (Tai Po Dragons), LAI Pou Fan (DeA), LAU Nga Wun (Gai Wu), LEE Ka Shun (Gai Wu), LEE Allison (HKFC), LI Nim Yan Melody Blessing (Gai Wu), Nam Ka Man (DeA), NG Suet Ying (Kowloon), OLSON-THORNE, Natasha Shangwe (DeA), POON Pak Yan (Gai Wu), SCHRODER, Elizabeth Mai (DeA), SEURE, Amelie (Valley), SHAM Wai Sum (Gai Wu), TSANG, Wing Lam (DeA), WONG Yuen Shan (DeA), YUEN, Lok Yee (Kowloon)
Asian Women’s Four Nations,
May 18: Japan v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Hong Kong v Kazakhstan (k/o 17:00)
May 21: Kazakhstan v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Hong Kong v Japan (k/o 17:00)
May 24: Hong Kong v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Kazakhstan v Japan (k/o 17:00)
Where: Aberdeen Stadium, Hong Kong
How Much: Free
More info: www.hkrfu.com
Hong Kong ended what they will regard as a disappointing Asian Cricket Council Premier League 2014 with a comfortable win over hosts Malaysia by 4 wickets. JJ Atkinson finally won a toss and unsurprisingly, given the four recent losses batting first, opted to chase. Another impressive performance by Hong Kong’s bowling attack saw Malaysia all-out for 184 in the 47th over with Nadeem Ahmed taking taking 3-28 and Nizakat Khan strangling the batters with his nine overs yielding just 17 runs and a wicket. Hong Kong’s top order all contributed in a well structured run chase that, despite a couple of nervous late wickets, saw them knock-off the required target of 185 with 8 overs to spare.
Scorecard courtesy of cricinfo
Irfan Ahmed scored a wonderful century and took two wickets in Hong Kong’s Duckworth Lewis loss to Nepal in the Asian Cricket Council Premier League. Irfan’s sensational knock included 10 4’s and 3 6’s, sadly none of Hong Kong’s other batsmen could stay with him and the team were bowled out for 181 in the 42 over after again losing the toss. Nepal comfortably reached their revised target of 144 in 38 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 23 balls to spare. A fourth consecutive team loss took a little of the shine from Irfan’s individual brilliance, but it shouldn’t. Congratulations Irfan, what a great knock!
scorecard courtesy of Cricinfo
After a strong showing at the recent World T20 Hong Kong went into the Asian Cricket Council Premier League 2014 brimming with confidence and looking to do well. It’s all gone a bit pear shaped though after a third straight defeat – this time to the UAE by two wickets. For the second straight game after being asked to bat first the wickets tumbled. All the top order batsmen reached double figures but none pushed on. The bowlers did their best and keeping the team in the game, but defending totals around 150 in a 50 over game is asking a lot. Today UAE were 7-93 but sadly for Hong Kong cricket fans the an eighth wicket partnership of 29 and unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 36 saw UAE win by 2 wickets with 9 balls to spare.
scorecard courtesy of cricinfo
A quick-fire 38 from Haseeb Amjad was not quite enough as Hong Kong slumped to their second defeat at this year’s Asian Cricket Council Premier League falling 9 runs short of Oman’s 143. A steady bowling performance saw Hong Kong bowl out Oman in the 46 over with Tanwir Afzal and Irfan Ahmed both taking three wickets. An energetic start by Irfan Ahmed who smashed 20 from 10 balls looked to have set Hong Kong on the path to an easy win, but the rest of top order went cheaply and the Omanis picked up wickets at regular intervals to derail the run chase.
Scorecard courtesy of cricinfo
The opening match of the 2014 Asian Cricket Council Premier League held in Kuala Lumpur saw Hong Kong thrashed by a high quality Afghanistan team. Hong Kong posted a solid 216 as they were bowled out in the 50th over, Babar Hayat top scoring with 53. Afghanistan’s Usman Ghani powered the run chase with 6 4’s and 2 6’s in a match changing 70 that saw his team to victory in the 44th over. A disappointing start to the tournament for Hong Kong who had hoped to follow up their strong performances in the early part of 2014.
scorecard courtesy of cricinfo
After much acrimony, the financial pie has been split to satisfy the suits for the next 8 years – whether enough consideration has given to player health, fitness and downtime only time and the quality of rugby will tell. Here is the European Club Rugby statement in full.
| European Rugby statement |
| For immediate release: Thursday 10 April 2014 |
| Issued by EPCR |
| All nine stakeholders (listed below) are delighted to confirm that a Heads of Agreement ensuring the continuation and development of European club rugby competitions has been signed. The parties have underlined their commitment to an invigorated competition which meets the requirements of all the parties involved. It is a truly meritocratic tournament, with appropriate division of finances, underpinned by a long-term agreement and strong governance, starting in the 2014/2015 season.
Overview: An association shall be established in Switzerland called ‘European Professional Club Rugby’ (EPCR). This body will be responsible for organising and managing the Cup Competitions. European Rugby Champions Cup qualification: For the 1st season: The 7th highest finishing club from TOP 14 and the 7th highest finishing club from Premiership Rugby. This play off will be played in May 2014, either as one match (in which case, there will be a draw for home advantage) or as home/away. For subsequent seasons: The 7th highest finishing club from TOP 14, the 7th highest finishing club from Premiership Rugby and the 8th and 9th highest finishing clubs from PRO 12 (or the 2 highest finishing which have not already qualified automatically). From 2015 season, if the previous season’s European Rugby Challenge Cup winner has not already qualified through its finishing position in its league, it will participate in the play off by taking a place given to its league. The play off will take place over 2 dates. European Rugby Challenge Cup qualification: Format of both Competitions: Calendar of both Competitions: The Qualifying Competition will compromise between 8 and 12 teams from Tier 2 countries and Italian clubs as agreed by EPCR & FIRA-AER. EPCR will be managed through a Board of Directors representing all parties and an Executive committee in charge of commercial matters and assisting with preparations of Board meetings. The EPCR Board shall have an Independent Chairman. The EPCR Executive will comprise the Independent Chairman, Director-General, and three voting representatives, one from each of the leagues – namely the TOP 14, Premiership Rugby and PRO 12. The Director-General shall manage the day to day operations of EPCR. Competitions will be under the aegis of the IRB and run according to the IRB Laws Relating to the Game and IRB Regulations. The parties have also agreed to form a working party to discuss and propose the principles of an integration of European competitions within an all-encompassing European rugby framework. A minimum eight year agreement. Equal distribution of funds. i.e. A third to TOP 14 teams, a third to Premiership Rugby teams and a third to PRO 12 teams, with a guaranteed minimum distribution for the clubs from the Pro12 in years 1-5. The nine parties are: Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR), Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), Ligue Nationale De Rugby (LNR), Premiership Rugby Ltd (PRL), Regional Rugby Wales Ltd (RRW), The Rugby Football Union (RFU), Scottish Rugby Union PLC (SRU) and The Welsh Rugby Union Ltd (WRU). ERC Ltd. The parties take seriously their obligations to ERC and their staff and will ensure an orderly and proper transition to the new association. |
