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Hong Kong 15 Japan 14 – Women’s Asian 4 Nations: 21 May 2014

A last-gasp penalty from fly-half Lai Pou Fan helped Hong Kong pull off a thrilling 15-14 victory over Japan in the Asian Women’s 4 Nations at Aberdeen Stadium last night.

Lai, who had earlier missed converting a second-half try from fullback Aggie Poon Pak Yan that would have leveled scores at 14-14, more than made up for that miss as she coolly slotted over the winning penalty with the final kick of the match to give the hosts a scrappy yet welcome victory in the four-team tournament. While top seeds Kazakhstan remained unbeaten after hammering Singapore 68-0 in the first match of the day.

“I thought we played better in our first game against Kazakhstan than we did today, but for long periods of the game we stuck to our game plan and got rewards from that,” said Hong Kong coach Chris Garvey. “I think if we had been a little more patient at times and had a little more trust in our game, then the result may have even been a little less nervy for our management and the fans today. But credit to our girls, in previous games and years, they have crumbled. But today they showed a little more guts and fight, and a whole lot of spirit,” Garvey added.

Hong Kong opened the scoring when inside centre Rose Fong beat her opposite number with a barnstorming run to score in the fifth minute. Lau converted and Hong Kong led 7-0. Japan came back strongly through the impressive No.8 Mami Okada who had scored a hat-trick against Singapore earlier in the tournament. Okada powered her way over for a try from close range from the back of a maul as Japan hit back and went into halftime with the scores level on 7-7.

Japanese centre Ayako Tanaka completed a fine piece of driving play by the pack to score a try and give her team the lead for the first time in the match with winger Ai Tasaka adding her second conversion to make the score 14-7. But Hong Kong, who had lost narrowly to Kazakhstan in their opening match 13-10, never gave up, and it was left to the dangerous Aggie Poon to round off a breathtaking move by the backs after the forwards had punched it up from a lineout to narrow the gap to 14-12. Lau’s last-minute heroics then earned Hong Kong a deserving win.

“Too many mistakes cost us the match,” said disappointed Japan coach Goshi Arimizu. “We played well but made too many mistakes and Hong Kong did better in the second half. Their scrum put us under pressure. We now must look to Kazakhstan and try and finish off well. They beat us last time we played, so this time we play to avenge that loss,” Arimizu added.

The final set of games in the Women’s Asian 4 Nations is on 24 May when Hong Kong take on Singapore (k/o 15:00) and Kazakhstan play Japan (k/o 17:00) at Aberdeen Stadium.

Asian Women’s Four Nations
Where: Aberdeen Stadium, Hong Kong
How Much: Free
More info: www.hkrfu.com

One Direction “On the Road Again Tour 2015” Live in Hong Kong – 18 March, 2015

Exciting news – not, the completely dire One Direction hit Hong Kong to milk local fans for every dollar. The concert’s not until March 2015, yet the 13,500 tickets go onsale next month at prices from $3,488 to $988 adding some $20million to the concert promoters bank balance. According to Sony UK’s Chief Executive Nick Gatfield back in 2012 the 1D (as fans refer to the band) cash cow was worth GBP50million. It’s probably trebled since then as the record company and the band’s management have ruthlessly monetised social media to cash in on teenage girls and their adoring parents who can’t object to the bands clean cut, wholesome, whiter-than-white, middle class parent friendly pop: cute boys advocating puppy love.

One can only hope that unlike Rihanna’s awful lip-sync show One Direction will actually sing live, be on stage on-time (unlike Justin Bieber) and give the crowd some midnight memories worthy of the ticket price.

The 1D VIP package costs $1200 more than the top price seat – and for $3,488 you’d think it’d include a meet and greet…but no it doesn’t. For the extra $1200 you get a 1D watch (with pouch!) and a laminated card on a lanyard – whoopee fucking do!

One Direction “On the Road Again Tour 2015”
When: 18 March 2015
Where: AsiaWorld-Expo, Arena
How Much: Standing – $1,488, $1,888, Seated – $988, $1,488, $1,888, $2,288, Premium VIP Package – $3,488. Tickets onsale 10am 11 June 2014 from www.hkticketing.com
More-info: onedirectionmusic.com https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=786961167994629&saved

New Makati – 25th Anniversary – 15 May, 2014

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Asian Women’s Four Nations Championship: 18-24 May, 2014

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 Sinfonietta: Good Music This Lunch – 12:45pm 20 May, 2014

Good Music This Lunch is a series of free chamber music concerts organised by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. The next lunchtime concert is on the 20 May at 12:45, admission is free and ‘you’re welcome to enjoy your lunch while listening to good music’.

Programme
Perry Goldstein : Mischief
Saxophone: Timothy Sun, Bass Clarinet: Chen Chiu-yuan

John W McMahan: Trio con Brio
Percussion: Chau Chin-tung, Rieko Koyama, Mandy Lo

Chau Chin-tung: Touch Wood
Percussion: Chau Chin-tung, Mandy Lo, Leung Ching-kit Jason, Chan Wai-hong

Guo Wen-jing: Drama, Trio for 3 Pairs of Cymbals & Players’ Voices, Op 23: I & VI
Percussion: Chau Chin-tung, Leung Ching-kit Jason, Chan Wai-hong

Nebojša Jovan Živković: Trio per Uno, Op 27
Percussion: Chau Chin-tung, Rieko Koyama, Mandy Lo*

Good Music This Lunch
Hong Kong Sinfonietta
When: 12:45pm 20 may, 2014
Where: HK City Hall Foyer
How Much: Free
More info: www.hksl.org

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Malaysia v Hong Kong – 7 May, 2014

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 47^th 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

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Hong Kong v Nepal – 5 May, 2014

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

Asian Cricket Council Premier League: Hong Kong v United Arab Emirates – 4 May, 2014

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