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Japan Thrash Error Prone Hong Kong 58-0

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Hong Kong’s Asian Rugby Championship campaign got off to a disastrous and error prone start with a 58-0 loss to Japan in the first of the two-match series in Odarawa.

From the outset, the Sakura dominated the set piece and contact area in a clinical performance that caused real problems for Hong Kong coach Jo Hull’s squad. Japan jumped out to a 22-0 lead, and claimed the bonus point for scoring four tries, in the opening 25 minutes. The Sakura went on to score ten tries in total, five on either side of half time.

“It was a disappointing performance obviously, but fair play tothem, they came out hard and fast and dominated in all areas really,” said Hull.

“We played some okay rugby in parts and forced them into some mistakes defensively, but we let ourselves down, particularly at the contact area, and our set piece is underperforming at the moment,which is hurting us,” Hull added.

“We are bitterly disappointed, but no one is feeling sorry for themselves in that locker room. We know we had a bad day at the office. We need to learn from that and also put it behind us now,” said Hull.

“Collectively, we need to look inward, and ask ourselves what weare going to do as a team, as the entire squad including the girls at home, for next week. That is my challenge to the players the management, to everyone,” Hull said.

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For Hull, the side now has an important opportunity to test it’s mettle for the last time in a match environment ahead of the world cup next month.

“We have seven days before our next test, so we need to review and get back to work on what we need to get right. That will be a good preparation for us for the World Cup, where we are going to have to be able to contest back-to-back tough matches,” added Hull.

“We are a month out from our biggest ever challenge and the players are aware that today was an unacceptable performance when we are wearing the Hong Kong jersey, but it doesn’t change what we are doing, or our belief in ourselves, our training and what we are working on. This is another opportunity now for us to get better,” said Hull.

Hong Kong’s best passage of play came early in the second half after reverting to a forward-heavy pick and roll style, but lost out on their best opportunity to add points and gather some momentum after a knock-on on the try-line.

Other than that, it was heavy going for the visitors, but Hull did take some positives from the encounter: “We exposed more players to this level and tried out some new combinations. That ability to get players this experience is a massive plus for us. If we continue to play the same girls, we risk taking a very limited squad in terms of our experience to Ireland,” noted Hull.

“BB Lee [Tsz-ting] played well at fly-half today. Her kicking game was very good and she managed the ball well despite being under pressure,” Hull added.

Hull was also pleased to see the subs bench make an impact, including 18-year old Kelsie Bouttle who earned her first cap.

“She did well; it’s tough for an 18 year old to debut in that scenario: being away versus Japan and coming on with a big deficit, but she showed composure and had some good ball in hand moments.”

Hull also complimented Rose Hopewell-Fong who came on for the second half and contributed to the positive start after the break by pairing well with captain Adrienne Garvey in the centre, before dropping back to fullback as positional cover.

“Rosie did well in a tough spot after coming on at 12 but having to move back, I think she showed how she has matured as a player today.

“We’ll continue to make changes this week to expose more players and combinations. My challenge to the team is to come back and show how we are going to collectively regroup and move forward,” said Hull.

Hong Kong v Japan
Date: 6pm, 15 July, 2017
Venue: King’s Park
Tickets: Free

Additional reporting: HKRugby
Photos: Japan Rugby, Toru Ikegami

Hong Kong Set for Asian Women’s Rugby Championships

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Ahead of their historic first appearance at the Rugby World Cup in Ireland in August, Hong Kong’s women’s rugby team will face Japan in a home and away series to decide the Asia Rugby Championship.

The matches on 8 July in Japan and 15 July at King’s Park are the teams final competitive warm-ups. “These games are a great opportunity as they come so close to the World Cup” said Hong Kong coach Jo Hull.

In announcing her squad for the away match (8 July, kick-off at 11 am HK time) Hull has given National Age Grade graduate Kelsie Bouttle a chance to earn her first cap after a standout season for League and Grand Championship winners Valley. There’s also a return for some of the side’s senior campaigners in centre Adrienne Garvey, who will captain the team in Japan, and flanker Christine Gordon.

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“It is a bit of a different squad,” confirmed Hull, who hailed the team’s, “good mix of experience. It is great to have Rocky [Garvey] and Chrissie [Gordon] back, and we are excited to be able to blood another new cap in Kelsie, along with the first-timers who went to Spain.”

“We are using this opportunity to look at a few different starters and combinations, like Lindsay Varty at scrumhalf and ‘BB’ [Lee Tsz-ting] at ten. We think that could be an exciting combination as both are playing well at the moment.”

“The selection reflects our preparations for the World Cup, which is our only focus at the moment. Everything we’re doing is building towards being ready for the first match against Canada next month,” Hull said.

The match also represents another opportunity for the players who made their Hong Kong debuts against Spain in Valladolid last month – and although the squad’s focus is fully on Dublin in August, Hull is demanding results from her side in the Asian Championships.

“This is international rugby and we are representing Hong Kong, so results matter. We started to close the gap over the week against Spain and now we need to do that against Japan.”

Hong Kong lost it’s last outing against Japan in December’s World Cup Qualifier, 20-8, improving on 39-3 and 30-8 losses in last spring’s Asian Championships.

“This is a big test of our progress for the World Cup,” said Hull. “There has been a clear message to the girls selected about accountability and we’re putting a premium on efficiency and accuracy. Each game is about getting us one step closer to how we want to play on the world stage.”

“While the squad has really come into their own over the past six months, at this stage of the campaign, there are no second chances. The players have to be accountable, plain and simple. They know and accept that.” Hull warned.

Both Hong Kong and Japan advanced from December’s triangular World Cup Qualifier to their first ever World Cups at fifteen-a-side. Since then Japan have also been busy preparing, splitting matches against Wales and Ireland in June.

“Japan have had some good results and they should be proud of themselves. They are a good team and are very disciplined. To put them off their game we need to start fast and get into the mix early on. That fits with our objectives for the Rugby World Cup, to play much faster and be more efficient on the pitch, particularly in the contact area and set piece.”

“We really saw how important those things are in Spain and we will be looking to make improvements from our tour last month,” Hull concluded.

Hong Kong for Women’s Asia Rugby Championship 2017:

1. LAU Nga-wun (Gai Wu), 2. Royce CHAN Leong-sze (HKFC), 3 WONG Yuen-shan (USRC Tigers/EdUHK), 4. CHAN Ka-yan (Gai Wu), 5. TSANG Sin Yan (Kowloon) 6. Christine GORDON (Kowloon), 7. CHAN Tsz-ching (Tai Po Dragons/HKBU), 8. Amelie SEURE (Valley, vice-captain), 9. Lindsay VARTY (USRC Tigers), 10. LEE Tsz-ting (Gai Wu/HKBU), 11. LAU Sze-wa (Valley), 12. Rebecca THOMPSON (Valley), 13. Adrienne GARVEY (Valley, captain), 14. Laurel CHOR Lik-fung (Valley), 15. Aggie POON Pak-yan (Gai Wu), RESERVES: 16. HO Hoi-lam (Gai Wu), 17. CHEUNG Shuk-han (Valley), 18. PUN Wai-yan (Gai Wu/EdUHK), 19. Winnie SIU Wing-ni (USRC Tigers), 20. TSANG Sin-yan (Kowloon), 21. HO Jessica Wai-on (USRC Tigers), 22. Rose HOPEWELL-FONG Siu-lan (HKFC), 23. Kelsie BOUTTLE (Valley/ICHK).

Additional reporting: HK Rugby

Sport For All Day 2017

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold a “Sport For All Day 2017” on 6 August 2017 to encourage people to maintain a healthy lifestyle through sports and activity participation and form the habit of exercising at least half an hour a day.

There will be a wide range of free programmes offered across the city from ‘run gait analysis’ to ‘towel exercises for fun’ see the full programme schedule here.

To get you in the mood and habit of exercising the LCSD have created a simple daily stretching programme – the pdf of which you can download here.

Various normally fee-charging LCSD facilities will be open for free on 6 August. 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 6 August can be made at the Leisure Link booking counters at LCSD venues (except for self-service kiosks) from 9am on 30 July. 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.

Sport For All Day 2017
Date: 6 August, 2017
Venue: LCSD Sports Facilities
Tickets: Free
More info: Bookings from 30 July.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/sfad/2017/index.html

HK Sixes Returns in October

Cricket Hong Kong have announced that after a gap of five years the Hong Kong Sixes will return to the local sporting calendar on the 28-29 October 2017 at Kowloon Cricket Club.

The ‘fastest’ cricket format in the world will see eight international teams participating in matches that take just 45 minutes to complete. The Sixes will also look to take advantage of technology changes as Cricket Hong Kong aims to create a tournament with a distinct identity.

“Everyone in the cricket community here in Hong Kong is delighted to have the Sixes confirmed as being back on our calendar,” Cricket Hong Kong Director Jonathan Cummings said. “We love what the Sixes were and are passionate about bringing the best bits with us, but we won’t be satisfied putting on the same show as in 2012.”

“This will be the Sixes 2.0 and over time, we want to make this the most hi-tech, innovative cricket tournament in the world. The emergence of Twenty20 leagues around the world is great, but this is an opportunity to create a different a experience for cricket lovers and to engage new fans to the sport.”

“It’s a format where we aren’t bound by the traditional rules of the game, so we will be designing everything to provide maximum entertainment value and engagement.” Cummings said.

“We’ve already launched the Junior Cricket Sixes into local schools and we look forward to connecting that programme with the October event. Anyone can enjoy Sixes cricket, lots of big hits and great entertainment with no breaks.”

The Sixes will be held at the Kowloon Cricket Club with KCC President David Brettell commenting that “KCC is in full support of Cricket Hong Kong’s efforts to reinstate the event. We are delighted to welcome back the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes to the KCC and we are excited to be partnering with Cricket Hong Kong in their endeavour to bring a world class sporting event to Hong Kong”.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Kowloon Cricket Club,” Cummings said. “The venue is perfect for Sixes cricket and they have the experience in providing world class hospitality and service and will host spectators to an outstanding weekend.”

Teams for the event will be confirmed within the next month with a minimum of six full member nations to participate.

HK Cricket Sixes
Date: 28-29 October, 2017
Venue: Kowloon Cricket Club
Tickets: tbc

Additional reporting and image: HK Cricket

Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 Bid, Community Reception @ PMQ – 21 June, 2017

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Over 300 people turned up at the Gay Games HK 2022 Community Reception, the final event of the bid inspection visit by the games organisers. Hong Kong is vying with Washington and Guadalajara to host the 2022 games, the host city will be announced in November.

Read more information about the games bid at www.gaygameshk2022.com
Click on any photo to see the full image gallery.

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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:

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