The Hong Kong School Sports Federation Rugby Sevens team took out the 2nd Asian Schools Rugby Sevens Championship at King’s Park on Sunday, defeating Thailand 14-7 in the final. It was Hong Kong’s second win from two editions of the tournament and came on the back of an impressive team performance.

Thailand took it to the hosts in the final, grabbing a 7-0 lead before Hong Kong settled, but coach Fan Shun Kei was not worried about his side’s slow start.

“It is a rugby game, you score, we score. That is the nature of competitive sport. I’m very happy with the result. We bounced back from a loss to Singapore (in the final pool match) and beat tournament favourites Sri Lanka (in the semi-final).”

Paul Altier, captain Mark Coebergh and James Karton, all of whom represented Hong Kong at the Junior World Trophy in Zimbabwe earlier in the year, delivered strong performances for the victors.

“Mark Coebergh and James Karton really stood out in this tournament,” Fan said. “They worked really hard and they played a lot of minutes. They maintained their standard.”

The final saw Thailand catch Hong Kong napping early and Patarapong Panjaroan took advantage to open the scoring.

Hong Kong speedster Altier then crossed to leave the scores tied 7-7 at the break. Soon after the restart Ryan Walker also found the line to give Hong Kong the lead and, despite a hard-fought finish, Hong Kong hung on.

Hong Kong won five of its six matches across the two days to maintain its grip on the trophy it last won in 2013.

After opening day wins over China, Guam and India, Hong Kong went down to Singapore 21-5 in its final pool match on Sunday to finish second overall in pool A behind Singapore.

It faced pool B leaders Sri Lanka, undefeated through its preliminary matches, in the semi-finals and prevailed 19-12 in a willing encounter. Sri Lanka started the better and took a 5-0 lead, but tries to Jack Abbott and Karton saw Hong Kong regain the ascendancy and lead 12-5 at the break.

Altier then crossed to give his side what seemed to be a commanding lead, but Sri Lanka would not lie down and trimmed the margin to seven points to ensure a tight finish. A desperate tackle by Coebergh in the dying stages proved crucial and ensured his side the win.

Fan saw the tournament as a good way to prepare his young players for what lies ahead: “It is very good preparation for upcoming years for the under 20s,” he said. “The best thing for the players is that they are still young and they can think about what they want to do in the future.”

Sri Lanka took out the Plate final with a 33-7 win over Singapore, Malaysia defeated China 54-0 in the final of the Bowl and Guam brushed aside Mongolia 27-0 in the Shield.

Sri Lanka’s Harith Yapa Mudiyanse-Lage Bandara was named player of the tournament.

Hong Kong Squad (2nd Asian School Rugby Sevens Championship 2016)

James Karton (West Island School)*, Sam Jupp (Shatin College), Chong Shun Hong (Yuen Yuen Inst. MFBM Nei Ming Chan Lui Chung Tak Memorial College), Oliver Overman (Kellett International School), Ryan Walker (Australian International School), Mark Coebergh (YMCAHKCC)*, James Francis (South Island School), Paul Altier (South Island School)*, Henry Poon (Chinese International School), Aidan Trent (Australian International School), Jack Abbott (South Island School), James Gostic (South Island School).

* Members of the Hong Kong Rugby Union U20 team at the Junior World Trophy 2016