MELROSE CLAYMORES COMPETITION - MATCH REPORTS

DAY TWO

Hong Kong China Women 14-24 Thailand

The quick and powerful Jirawan Chutrakun from Thailand looked to have opened the scoring in the opening minutes, but it was ruled out. Chong Ka Yan then prevented a try with a tackle on the edge, but Chutrakun did cross over for the opening score after three minutes in the right corner, narrowly missing the conversion to lead 5-0.

The Thais had Hong Kong China pegged back in our their half, and when the girls did attack, unfortunately, the ball was spilt. Chong Ka Yan prevented a second try by Chutrakun but again the try was ruled out as the Thai attacking winger tried to place the ball, but still had her knees on the ground.

Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana was given the space and ball within her 22m to run it a full 70m and dot down under the posts in the 7th minute. The try was converted to give a lead 7-5 with just enough time for the restart, but the Thais knocked the ball on to end the half.

Thailand kicked off and regained the ball to place us under pressure. Hong Kong China's rush defence caused Thailand problems, but they retained the ball well and found space through the middle with captain Narathip Maneesai scoring to lead 12-7 with 5 minutes to go.

The Thais were straight back into attack from the restart, and the Thai captain scored again within a minute to extend the lead to 17-7.

There were probing runs from Hong Kong China, but handling errors prevented them being converted into points. Thailand, meanwhile, were more composed with the ball in hand and added a final try to Rattanaporn Wittayaronnayut, to extend the lead to 24-7 with a minute remaining.

Hong Kong China looked to narrow the deficit as the points differential could count. Haruka Uematsu managed to score on her debut at the Cathay HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, but with the missed conversion, it ended up as a 12-24 loss.

Try Scorers: Julia Mibuy MBA OYANA (7’) & Haruka UEMATSU (14’)

Player Reaction

Shanna Forrest: Said that the main messaging for the team ahead of the game had been around what they could control, but that it did not pan out as they wanted. “Even though it was not the result we wanted, Thailand put up a great fight, and now we will have to wait and see what happens.

"We didn't maintain our goals, and one of our main takeaways from the game against Denmark was to protect the ball, and we didn't do that as well as we wanted. We had a few issues in our attack in both games, and that impacted the results. Going into tomorrow, we have to be optimistic and keep the same messaging.”

Aside from the results, she said that the weekend had been really fun and emotional. “Being able to play in front of this crowd and even the smallest of runs out here is met with such loud cheers, it is such a great motivator as a player. It is so noisy out there, but we love it. It's amazing, and we appreciate that it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We need to believe in ourselves, and we will keep doing that as a team.”

Hong Kong China Men 7-14 Japan

Japan kicked off and got the ball back from the restart with Toma Shiwachi scoring in the opening 30 seconds under the posts, to give Japan a 7-0 lead.

Hong Kong China dealt better with the restart and earned a penalty to get out of their 22m. Co-captain James Christie worked hard and scored the equalising try, and with the conversion slotted, made it 7-7 in the 3rd minute.

Japan put a good ball in behind Hong Kong China, but the boys defended well and cleared their lines. There was a scrum for Hong Kong China in front of our own posts with less than 30 second and again we were forced to kick clear for the half time whistle to be blown.

In the second half, Japan scored first, finding space on the right edge, to lead 14-7. Both teams again created one or two chances, but it was a tight game.

Hong Kong China had a great scoring opportunity with a 4 vs 2 overlap, but Japan poached the loose ball and ran 80m to nearly score, barring an outstanding Mike Coverdale tackle. The boys tried several times to run it out from our 22m but could not find a way past a resolute defence, and Japan held on to win by a 7 point margin.

Try Scorers: James Christie

DAY ONE

Hong Kong China Women 14-14 Denmark 

Our women kicked off after a noisy reception from the Kai Tak crowd under the closed roof and regathered the ball, but had it turned over after a few phases of attacking play.

We then stole a lineout and looked to unleash the pace of Chong Ka Yan and Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana, but the Danish defence held. The Danes then had their chances to attack with the ball in hand and were met by staunch Hong Kong China defence.

There was a 5th-minute TMO check on a potential high hit from the team in red, but no foul play took place. When Hong Kong China had the ball, the girls looked to create chances, but small handling errors meant there was a lack of continuity. The vocal crowd urged the team on.  

Denmark applied pressure, and the girls had to defend our try line at the hooter, but Denmark scored from the back of a 5 metre scrum and converted the try to lead 7-0 at the break.

The second period started scrappily for both teams. Hong Kong China at times struggled to find cohesion and Denmark worked the ball well to the left and extended the lead 14-0 with just 4 minutes left.

A Danish player was yellow-carded from the restart, but the girls couldn't make the most of the half-chances that were created. With the clock running down, we had to score twice, and the scoring machine, Chong Ka Yan, scored with 2 minutes remaining, and it was successfully converted.

The Hong Kong China scramble defence stopped a third try from the Danes, and after winning a penalty after the hooter,  Chong Ka Yan made another burst and scored under the posts in front of the South Stand. The second conversion meant it was a draw at full-time.

Try Scorers: Chong Ka Yan (10’ & 15’)

Player Reaction

Haruka Uematsu: is making her Hong Kong Sevens debut this weekend, although didn’t take to the field in today’s first match of the tournament. After the match she said she had never been in front of this many fans before. “I enjoyed the crowd a lot. I thought I was going to be much more nervous, as I can be anxious, but I was fine out there. My teammates helped me get through this, and in the tunnel, we were all encouraging each other.”

She said that she was really enjoying the moments and taking the whole experience in. “I have been really enjoying this a lot. I'm the youngest in the team, and this is my dream. I have family and friends in the crowd, so this means so much.”

She added of the Danish team, whom they had played in a hit out in preparation over the week, “I think they have improved a lot over the short amount of time we have seen them. We didn't start our best, but our captain, Chloe (Chan), told us to stay in there and trust ourselves and do what we are good at.”

Hong Kong China Men 36-14 China 

Following an hour of live music which entertained the vocal crowd, Hong Kong China came out and kicked off their Melrose Claymores title defence against China, who are coached by former All Black 7s Sam Dickson. 

Liam Herbert opened the scoring in the 2nd minute to lead 5-0, but China struck back and scored under the posts a minute later and took the lead with the conversion 7-5.  

The Chinese secured the ball from the restart, but the Hong Kong China defence earned us a penalty. Herbert created the space, and his pass allowed Bryn Phillips to dart between two defenders, and he scored the second try, this time converted, to retake the lead 12-5 in the final minute of the first period.

A Chinese player deliberately knocked the ball after the hooter and was yellow-carded. As the crowd was eagerly chanting ‘Hong Kong’, Matteo Avitabile scored off a set move, and the boys led 19-7 at the break.

In the second period, a great weaving run by Rory Stewart Cox saw him beat several defenders, before dotting down in front of the South Stand to lead 26-7 in the opening two minutes.

China scored in response under the posts after some good offloads and narrowed the deficit to 14-26.

A crucial steal and turnover on defence from our men stopped the Chinese scoring again, and they then turned defence into attack as Matt Rickard scored the 5th try for a 31-14 lead, in his first Hong Kong Sevens appearance.

Liam Herbert added a 6th and final try at the end of the game to record a 36-14 victory.

Try Scorers: Liam Herbert (2’ and 14’), Bryn Philips (6’), Matteo Avitabile (8’), Rory Stewart Cox (10’), Matt Rickard (12’)

Player Reaction

Julien Bourron: “We never know what to expect from the Chinese side as the team changes every time we face them. Our focus was on ourselves, and we had good experienced players create chances out there. My role was to distribute, and the guys did all the hard work out there.”

It is his first Hong Kong Sevens, and he is part of the younger crop coming through. “We have about six experienced guys and six younger lads this weekend. It's a good blend between the two, and guys in the group like Liam Herbert, who does a great job at gelling us all together.”

With six tries scored, and a few in front of friends and family in the South Stand, the boys were humble in the celebrations. “I scored at the National Games in front of that stand, and there is no better feeling for sure. I am one of the many guys who were out there as a mini player when I was younger. And watching the guys growing up and the heroes I have, and to have some of them as my teammates now is such a special and surreal feeling. This is a whole other level out there at Kai Tak, and it's only Friday.”

Liam Herbert: “In the team, I am like the middle man between the younger guys and the older, experienced players. I bridge that gap, and we have a lot of the younger guys in the squad this weekend, and they don't want to show it, but it's natural to be nervous, and we help each other calm down to focus on the job. And also to use the crowd who get behind our back, and to really play for each other.”

Of the game and the result, he said, “I was happy with our attack in that game, but we can still clean up our defence a bit. We knew, like with Japan, it was going to be about their offload game. We will look at the reviews and adjust for tomorrow. Our attack looks like it will take care of itself, but overall, I am happy.”

When asked about the humble celebrations, he said, “Yeah, maybe some of the colourful characters who do that are not here this weekend, but I think the celebrations will come, the guys were maybe a bit nervous too. We just wanted to get the job done, and the celebrations can come if we win it all on Sunday.”

Rory Stewart Cox: It wasn't his first Hong Kong Sevens, but it was his first try in front of the fabled South Stand, and Rory said, “I was worried someone was behind me when I scored there, but I am happy to have scored on that end. As a group, even the younger guys, I felt like we were composed and energised.”

Of the prep for Japan tomorrow, he said, “Yeah, I had to do this for the first time last year, and I found it quite tough to come down from the highs of playing out there in this stadium and with that crowd. I am a bit calmer and more confident in myself this time around. We will head back to the hotel, decompress and try to switch off. 

My dad, mom and brother were in the crowd, as well as other family and friends, so this is really special.”