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Leisure Facilities Free Use Day For HKSAR’s 20th Anniversary

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a Free Use Day on 1 July. The aim is to encourage people of all ages to do more physical exercise and develop a healthy lifestyle and bring exercise into daily life.

Various normally fee-charging LCSD facilities will be open for free on 1 July. The facilities include:

Indoor facilities: badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms, dance rooms, cycling track.

Outdoor facilities: tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls, archery ranges, a rope course and golf facilities (excluding camp facilities, sports grounds and artificial and natural turf pitches); Public swimming pools (excluding Wan Chai Swimming Pool); and craft at water sports centres.

Bookings for land-based leisure facilities and craft at water sports centres on 1 July can be made at the Leisure Link booking counters at LCSD venues (except for self-service kiosks) from 9am on 24 June. Each person can only book one free session on a first-come, first-served basis irrespective of the type of facility.

No prior booking is required for public swimming pools where entrance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Leisure Facilities Free Use Day
Date: 1 July, 2017
Venue: LCSD Sports Facilities
Tickets: Free
More info: Bookings from 24 June. www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/freeuseday/index.html.

Snooker Masters

The eight player Hong Kong Masters takes place on the 20-23 July at Queen Elizabeth Stadium and features current World Champion and World no.1 Mark Selby, former multiple World Champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins as well as local hero Marco Fu.

There will also be a series of exhibition frames between Ladies World Champion Ng On Yee and two legends of the game Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White.

The Masters returns to Hong Kong after a decade with total prize money of GBP315,000 and is sanctioned by World Snooker. The tournament will follow the standard knockout format with the final taking place on the 23 July.

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Quite why in a game where sex should be irrelevant Ng On Yee can’t compete against the men is a question no one will properly answer. Danny Mak Chairman of the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council said it was because men are “Better able to handle the mental and physical strain”. Ng On Yee offered that it was more about competition and opportunity “You can only beat the best if you get the opportunity to play, but hopefully that will improve in the future”.

Hong Kong Masters
Date: 20-23 July, 2017
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Tickets: $450, $300, $200, $150, $100 from Urbtix

Spain 41-18 Hong Kong

Spain beat Hong Kong 41-18 in the one-off Valladolid test as a disastrous start by the visitors saw the hosts establish a matching winning lead in the first quarter and lead 22-0 inside 30 minutes.

“That start was disappointing as we had talked a lot about how we needed to get at them early,” said coach Jo Hull. “We knew Spain would come out of the gate hard and we wanted to strangle them and prevent them from getting any momentum. We weren’t able to achieve that, unfortunately, but we did well to claw our way back into it.”

“Most importantly, we saw significant improvement from game one to two which was our main objective from the tour,” Hull added.

A gritty effort – led by the determined defence of flanker Cheng Ching-to and the inspired attack of winger Aggie Poon Pak-yan, saw Hong Kong claw its way back into the game in a more evenly contested second half.

Poon scored all of Hong Kong’s points, opening her account with a penalty in the 33rd minute to bring the half-time score to 22-3.

In the second half, the match opened up even further, with Spain starting the scoring in the 46th minute with a try to extend their lead to 29-3.

Hong Kong gained in confidence as the match wore on and were rewarded for their resiliency in the 51st minute when Poon, showing her skills, turned the corner on the Spanish defence to dash away for a forty-five metre try.

Poon’s try finished off a perfectly executed planned move that started from a scrum on the far side of the pitch. The ball passed cleanly though five pairs of hands in the back-line before Poon spotted the gap. Poon’s conversion of her own try edged Hong Kong back into the match at 29-10. Minutes later, another Hong Kong foray was rewarded, with a penalty, which Poon slotted to narrow the gap further 29-13.

Spain pushed right back with a barnstorming attack, throwing the ball around with abandon as they went 80 metres before creating a massive overlap on Hong Kong’s try-line to cross over for their sixth score and a 36-13 lead.

Moments later, Spain scored a final, fortuitous try to widen the margin to 41 points, leaving Hong Kong in danger of conceding a bigger loss than the 49-12 Madrid test defeat in 2015.

But Hong Kong re-grouped to marshal a final attack on the Spanish line and Poon stepped up once again, collecting a well-timed pass from fullback Colleen Tjosvold to dash 25 metres dragging three defenders across the line for a second try. Poon’s conversion was unsuccessful leaving the final score at 41-18.

Hull said before the tour that one of the goals of the trip was to expose the squad to more high-intensity matches and Hong Kong certainly experienced that as Spain were relentless in attack.

“Our tactical kicking still wasn’t good enough today,” said Hull. “We let them play too much rugby and we let their nine and ten get too involved. There were periods that we managed their pressure well, but our challenge now is to turn that 50 minutes into 80 minutes. But, overall, it was an improved performance against a much stronger side than the mid-week game.”

“We were more accurate in our attack and we had less handling and unforced errors, despite a big increase in the intensity of the game, so I’m pleased with that,” said Hull.

“This experience will absolutely hold us in good stead. Since we left this group has shown significant improvement and we have capped five new players on tour, which is vital for us in extending our squad ahead of the World Cup,” concluded Hull.

The squad returns to Hong Kong on Monday to prepare for the upcoming Asia Rugby Championship series with Japan in July.

Additional reporting and images: HK Rugby

Hong Kong Ready for Spain Test

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Jo Hull, Hong Kong’s coach, has named a strong squad for the one-off test match against Spain, currently ranked seventh in the world.

Two years ago Spain beat Hong Kong 49-12, with the World Cup two months away the match is an important indicator of the squads recent development.

“We’re still experimenting to some degree with our combinations, but we’ve gone with our strongest team against what we’re anticipating will be a much more experienced Spanish side,” said Hull.

“They played a lot of new players mid-week and we’re expecting more of their experienced players to play on Saturday, particularly in the forwards,” Hull noted.

That could be problematic for Hong Kong, who struggled mightily in the scrum on Tuesday. “Spain bullied us a bit so we need to use our strengths to our advantage and manage games against those bigger teams. We have to stop their ball carriers and bring them to ground early and we have to be able to live with that pressure for a full 80 minutes,” said Hull.

“We panicked a bit under pressure on Tuesday. We aren’t going to score from our own half against world class teams so we need to play smarter and use territory much better,” Hull added.

Rose Hopewell-Fong at fly-half will look to impose more control in those areas. While Chloe Mak Ho-yee hopes to ask more questions of the Spanish defence. “We’re giving Chloe the start as she offers something a bit different. While Rosie has that experience in controlling a match, Chloe will help us speed things up a bit,” Hull said.

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Hull has also turned to an experienced backline with all of the outside backs coming from Hong Kong’s sevens squad, including Ivy Kwong and the hard-running Natasha Olson-Thorne in the centres.

Chong Ka-yan’s performance in Tuesday’s friendly has earned her a start on the wing with Aggie Poon Pak-yan, while Colleen Tjosvold, who scored all of Hong Kong’s points in the opener, retains her spot at fullback.

“It’s an experienced backline, but they need to perform and to step-up really. We’re disappointed that we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities on Tuesday. We had two or three scoring chances that we squandered and we’ve given them a chance to put that right on Saturday,” Hull added.

In the forwards, Lau Nga-wun, Lee Ka-shun and Karen So will start in the front row with captain Chow Mei-nam forming a locking partnership with Tsang Sin-yan, who impressed on her senior debut earlier in the week. Vice captain Amelie Seure anchors the pack at No.8 with ball-fetcher Cheng Ching-to and Winnie Siu, another senior debutant earlier this week, on the flanks.

“Winnie was dynamic on Tuesday and we need a similar performance from her. Sin-yan earned her first cap by putting in a lot of work in the warm-up match. She hit a huge amount of rucks and was very effective around the pitch. Shedid the work we need our tight five to do – those unsung hero roles.”

Already conceding significant size to their opponents, the pack will have its work cut out for it as Spain are likely to field more of its veteran forwards, battle hardened from numerous matches against Women’s Six nations sides.

“We need to keep hold of the ball. We had too many turnovers on Tuesday, both forced and unforced. We also need to get our kicking game right and ensure we’re playing in the right areas,” said Hull.

Saturday’s test is an important step in Hong Kong’s build-up to its first ever Rugby World Cup appearance and the squad understands what is on the line.

“The girls are actually hugely disappointed with Tuesday’s performance. We’ve received a lot of messages from home, a lot of congratulations on the score, but the girls are setting a higher goal.”

“Our message this week has been about earning the right to play. This is our first international step towards the World Cup. We aren’t treating this like a normal tour, our only objective and ambition is to get better. No matter how well we do, we can’t be satisfied until we know our performance is where it needs to be, at World Cup level,” Hull added.

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Hong Kong squad v Spain (3 June 2017)

1. LAU Nga-wun, 2. Karen SO, 3. LEE Ka-shun, 4. TSANG Sin-yan, 5. CHOW Mei-nam (captain) 6. CHENG Ching-to, 7. Winnie SIU, 8. Amelie SEURE (vice capt), 9. MAK Ho-yee, 10. Rose HOPEWELL-FONG, 11. CHONG Ka-yan, 12. KWONG Sau-yan 13. Natasha OLSON-THORNE, 14. Aggie POON Pak-yan, 15. Colleen TJOSVOLD (vice capt). 16. Royce CHAN Leong-sze, 17. HO Hoi-lam, 18. PUN Wai-yan, 19. CHEUNG Shuk-hang, 20. Eunice LAI Ming-yan, 21. Lindsay VARTY, 22. LEE Tsz-ting, 23. Laurel CHOR

Photos : JFS Rugby Photography
Additional reporting: HK Rugby

Women’s International Friendly: Spain 19-8 Hong Kong

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Spain’s 19-8 victory in the warm-up match ahead of the 3 June test represents a significant improvement for Hong Kong’s women on their 2015 tour results when Spain scored 50+ points in both matches, but coach Jo Hull has warned her squad that it is not enough.

“If you compare that result to 2015, it was a much, much better performance, but honestly we are a bit disappointed, as we could have won that game,” said Hull. “We trailed 12-8 through 70 minutes and let ourselves down at times with some poor defensive efforts, including giving away a cheap try at the end of the game. The message we gave the girls after the game was that we have got to set our standard higher and have the belief that we are here to win these games and not just survive them.”

Hong Kong blunted the Spanish attack with a good rush defence and some strong loose forward play. The most visible blots on the copybook were Hong Kong’s performance in the scrum – Spain repeatedly dismantled Hong Kong’s pack, a few patchy periods on defence and an inability to alleviate pressure in their own half.

Spain’s dominance in the scrum will be a worry for Hull as she prepares her side for Saturday’s game: “It’s hard to get anything going when your scrum is going backwards like it did, so that is something that we will be focusing a lot on in the coming days, as well as our ability to get out from under pressure and play more rugby outside of our territory,” said Hull.

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On the positive side of the ledger, Hull was pleased to have had an opportunity to give all of her debut players a run-out. “We had five players making their senior debut, many of whom played well and will be involved in the World Cup. That is good as we need to expand that base and can’t rely on the same old players to keep stepping up. We were also able to try out some different players in different positions, like having a very young fly-half in BB [Lee Tsz-ting] on the pitch,” added Hull.

Spain jumped out to a 5-0 lead after a frenetic first ten minutes when they dominated possession and territory and were able to bring their physical advantage in the forwards into play with repeated short passes and carries by their towering loose forward trio. That pressure told in the 8th minute when the Spanish flanker crashed over for a try from a tap penalty close to the Hong Kong line.

After weathering the early pressure, Hong Kong’s belief grew and the capitalized on their first scoring opportunity when Colleen Tjosvold slotted home a penalty after Spain was pinged for off-side.

Spain replied three minutes later with a second try, this time coming through the backline as the hosts capitalised on a defensive lapse to score an easy try between the centres.

The heavy rain took it’s toll with both sides playing each other to a standstill as the scores stood at 12-8 at half-time. The stalemate continued deep into the second half with both sides liberally using their benches as they examined options and combinations ahead of Saturday’s test.

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Spain were the only side to score in the second half as they turned possession into points in the 74th minute with a second try from their open-side flanker.

Outside of the scrum, Hong Kong’s line-out was strong and the forward pack proved the equal of their opposition in the loose play, with the starting back row of match captain Amelie Seure at No.8 and Cheng Ching-to and Chan Tsz-ching, on her Hong Kong debut, putting in a strong performance.

Hull also had opportunities to debut a new lock pairing in Tsang Sin-yan and Eunice Lai Ming-yan and blooded all five of her uncapped players with Laurel Chor starting on the wing and prop Pun Wai-yan coming on as a substitute for the injured Lee Ka-shun late in the first half.

“Both locks played really well, as did Chan Tsz-ching. She was very physical and did a good job. In the backs, Chong Ka-yan was strong in both attack and defence and Colleen [Tjosvold, who scored all of Hong Kong’s points with a try and a penalty], was a standout. She really stepped up her game,” said Hull.

Saturday will now be a test of resolve for Hong Kong as they come up against the full Spanish national team, currently ranked seventh in the world. In 2015 Spain found another gear in the test match, which they won 59-12. Hull understands that a backlash may be coming and will be focusing the squad on that likelihood:

“The first match was an eye-opener for both teams. Spain will make some changes and I expect to see more of their senior players on Saturday. I am sure that they will want to be even more physical and it will be crucial for us to stop them from getting a good start and building any early momentum.

“Yes, we have made progress since 2015, but now there is a risk that we sit back and are content with that. We know that we are not good enough for the World Cup right now and I am interested to see how the squad responds to that in the test,” Hull concluded.

Photos : JFS Rugby Photography

Additional reporting: HK Rugby

Leicester City Win Soccer Sevens

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Leicester City claimed the Soccer Sevens for a second time defeating defending champions Aston Villa 3-0 in Sunday’s final at Hong Kong Football Club.

The tournament’s leading scorer 18 year-old Josh Eppiah scored twice, while Joshou Gordon was also on target as Leicester produced a dominant performance to add to their 2013 title.

Eppiah’s brace took him to eight goals for the competition, edging Villa’s seven-goal Harry McKirdy for the top scorer accolade. The forward was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player to cap an excellent three days.

“I’m over the moon and proud of myself. I took my chances well but the team and the staff around me have helped,” said Eppiah, who also scored twice in the 3-1 quarter-final win over West Ham United and once in the semi-final victory against Glasgow Rangers.

“This whole tournament has been amazing and I’d love to come back next year because I’m still a youngster and have more years to come back and do the same as I did today,” Eppiah added. “The boys fought, held on, came back and in the final we were all up for it so we came out and gave it everything we have.”

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Six-time winners Villa had impressed on the way to the final defeating Italian debutants Cagliari Calcio 3-0 in the last eight and French newcomers Olympique Marseille in the semi-final.

But Leicester had also looked strong over the weekend after winning all five of their games, and captain Hamza Choudhury’s man-marking of McKirdy in the final proved key as the Foxes nullified Villa’s main threat before running out deserved winners.

Runners-up in the previous two edition, West Ham enjoyed success this time around by lifting the Shield following a 2-0 victory over Cagliari in the final. After being eliminated by Leicester in the Cup quarter-finals, the Hammers dropped down to the Shield and returned to form to beat local side HKFA U-23s in the semi-final, before Joe Powell and Jaanai Gordon netted in the final against Cagliari.

Tournament debutants Bayer Leverkusen were crowned Plate champions as goals from Julijan Popovic and Berkan Arik helped claim a 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix in the final. The German side defeated hosts Hong Kong Football Club and Kashima Antlers in the quarter- and semi-finals before seeing off the New Zealanders.

Citi All Stars retained their Masters Tournament title after Jamie Cureton scored his second goal of the game at the death to clich a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wallsend Boys Club in the final.

The match-winning strike capped an excellent weekend for the former Norwich City forward, who claimed the top scorer award with nine goals before being named the Masters Tournament MVP.

“We’ve played well throughout the entire tournament and from the second half [in the final] I thought we performed really well and deserved to win it,” said Cureton. “It’s my job to score goals, I didn’t expect to get as many as nine, but I’m very pleased. I came three or four years ago and we didn’t do very well, so I’m hoping the nine goals and winning will get me an invite again next year.”

Tournament debutants, and major disappointments, playonPROS won the Masters Shield after Emile Heskey scored a sublime free-kick to claim a 3-2 victory over Discovery Bay in the final.

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Additional reporting and images: HKFA Soccer Sevens

Soccer Sevens: Sunday 28 May, 2017

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The anticipation and expectation levels were high, the sun was out – but in truth much of the football was poor and rather dull over the first couple of days of the Soccer Sevens. And it showed on Sunday with the public stand only about half-full for the finals…
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Soccer Sevens Saturday Action

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Defending Soccer Sevens champions Aston Villa survived a scare before advancing to a Cup quarter-final against Italian newcomers Cagliari Calcio after topping Group C at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday.

After defeating Singapore Cricket Club 1-0 in their tournament opener, Villa drew 2-2 with local side HKFA U-23. A loss to Bayer Leverkusen would have seen the six-time champions exit the Main Tournament, but Jordan Cox and captain Harry McKirdy scored to secure a 2-0 victory to condemn the German debutants to the Plate as HKFA U-23s also advanced to a last eight meeting with Glasgow Rangers.

“Leverkusen are a strong team, but we were outstanding, we dominated and made a statement,” said 2016 top scorer McKirdy, who’s appearing in his fourth Soccer Sevens. “We showed a togetherness in the end. We’ve been confident since we came out and we showed we are a strong team.”

Rangers enjoyed a fine return to the competition after a two-year hiatus, winning their first two games in Group A to book their place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare. But the Scottish visitors were unable to complete a 100% record as Cagliari posted a 1-0 win to edge above HKFA Red Dragons into second place and a spot in the last eight.

“It was obviously good to top the group although it was a disappointing result at the end,” said Rangers captain Max Ashmore. “We’re in the quarter-finals so it will be good to get the experience. We’re confident. I think you can see from the first two games what we can do and we’re definitely more than good enough to win the tournament.”

A similar scenario played out in Group D as West Ham United, runners-up in the previous two editions, started the tournament with a win and a draw to seal their place in the knockout stage. But the Hammers lost out on top spot as French debutants Olympique Marseille followed up successive draws with an impressive 3-0 victory over the London side to finish top of the standings.

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The win earned Marseille a quarter-final meeting with HKFC Captain’s Select, with West Ham handed a meeting with Leicester City. Former winners Leicester were in dominant form after winning Group B with a perfect record, with hosts HKFC Captain’s Select joining the English side in the last eight after victory over Wellington Phoenix and a draw with Kashima Antlers.

In the Masters competition, Jamie Cureton scored five goals in two games as holders Citi All Stars progressed to the semi-finals as Group A winners following back-to-back victories on Saturday, with HKFC Masters finishing as runners-up.

Wallsend Boys Club topped Group B after picking up two wins from two on Saturday afternoon and, in turn, eliminating the star-studded playonPROS as Hong Kong’s Yau Yee League Masters claimed second place.

Citi All Stars continue their title defence against Yau Yee League Masters, with Wallsend taking on HKFC Masters for a place in the final. PlayonPROS will, however, return on Sunday to play fellow third-place side Discovery Bay in the Masters Plate final.

Additional reporting and images: HKFA Soccer Sevens