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
