The Hong Kong Rugby Union Women’s XV, featuring 11 players on debut and in its first test since 2019, produced an inspirational 31-17 win over Kazakhstan at Siu Sai Wan in the weekend. Hong Kong led 13-12 at half, after erasing an early 12-3 deficit before the interval. The hosts never trailed after the break, producing three more tries in a blistering second half. 
Hong Kong generated a positive start, playing fast in a successful effort to stretch the Kazakh defence. That strategy produced dividends, as the hosts jumped out to a 3-0 lead after fly-half Aileen Ryan capped off a penalty-assisted drive with a successful shot at goal after five minutes. 

A few forced penalties at the scrum, (a key battle ground coming into the match), helped Kazakhstan find their feet. They grew in confidence and scored the next two tries, both through their sevens players, six of whom were included in the squad. 
Miscues gave the visitors advantageous field position in Hong Kong’s 22-metres. They kicked to the lineout and then parked on the Hong Kong try-line for over 15 phases before eventually feeding towering centre Lyudmila Sherer, who crashed over in the corner from close-in. The conversion was missed but Kazakhstan had its first lead 5-3. Their second score came in open play when fullback Galina Krassavina found enough space to turn the corner and touch down near the corner flag. The conversion was solid and Kazakhstan led 12-3 after 20 minutes. 

Despite conceding the early scores, Hong Kong looked more dangerous in attack, particularly fullback Vivian Poon Hoi-yan who entered the line repeatedly at pace. A perfectly timed insertion from Poon helped create space for fellow sevens star Jessica Eden to finish the play in the far corner. Ryan’s conversion was off the mark but Hong Kong had clawed back to 12-8. 
More unforced errors helped Kazakhstan resume the attack but the Hong Kong defence produced turnovers at key moments. Chow Mei-nam came up with two key steals in the lineout, the last one coming on Hong Kong’s 22-metre line, to turn the attack up field with moments left in the half. 

Hong Kong’s forwards forced another turnover off of a Kazakh scrum 30-metres from the visitors’ line to start another wave of attacks. Poon conjured up another great run through traffic, this time keeping the ball to wrong-foot the defence and crash over for the try right on halftime to bring the score to 13-8. Hong Kong never looked back after that crucial momentum swinging score. 

In the second half, Hong Kong again had the hot start, pushing play right to the visitors line in the opening minute. Good ball retention saw Hong Kong mount a series of phased attacks on the line with Kazakhstan, who only dressed 21 for today’s game, showing the first signs of tiring. Fittingly it was co-captain Natasha Olson-Thorne who matched strength with strength to convert the half-gap into the full five points for the hosts, charging over the line to expand the margin to 18-12. Hong Kong nearly scored a statement forwards try after 50 minutes as they held their own in several attacking scrums, a lift for the Hong Kong side who gave up weight and size to the visitors, but whose low body height and better technique won out on the day. Kazakhstan eventually turned over the ball, but a poor clearance kick gave Hong Kong back possession in front of the Kazakhstan posts. Co-captain Lee Ka-shun came on to close out the match, and the experienced veteran, making her 27th showing for Hong Kong, added impetus to the drive. With a good platform set at the scrum, the hosts capped the drive in the fourth phase when Jess Eden collected her brace, scoring untouched in the corner as Hong Kong led 23-12. 

Kazakhstan replied through a brilliant solo effort from wing Amina Tulegenova who charged down a clearance kick and collected the ball for the try, bringing her side back within a converted try at 23-17. From then on out, Hong Kong played most of the second half rugby in Kazakhstan’s end. Patient and clinical play helped them close out the game in convincing fashion. They iced the win with a four-on-one overlap out wide, which was ruthlessly finished by Agnes Chan Tsz-ching growing Hong Kong’s lead to 28-17 and putting Kazakhstan out of reach. Ryan added a late penalty to make the final score 31-17. 

Head coach Royce Chan Leong-sze was delighted with the performance and the win in her debut match in charge, saying, “I’m so proud of the team. We have kind of held a grudge for years waiting for a game, and now we have had the chance to get that chip off of our shoulder,” said Chan. “In the second half we found our rhythm. At halftime we talked about emphasising our strengths, focusing more on ourselves and eliminating our errors. The girls really gelled and I couldn’t even tell they have been training for such a short period of time.” 

The win was met with rapturous scenes from the fans and Chan relished the moment: “For now, I want them to enjoy the next 24 hours. Then we can calm ourselves down and start our mental recovery because everyone is so excited now, which is great. We have done the first job, now our challenge is to do the second job better. We know Kazakhstan will come back hard.” 
Co-captains Natasha Olson-Thorne and Lee Ka-shun were equally ecstatic. “We are just very proud of the girls,” said Natasha Olson-Thorne. “We had confidence but we did not think it would be like that,” said Lee, adding that, “we just came in wanting to do our jobs and let the results come from there. Now we need to keep focusing on our strengths and improve our execution and accuracy for the next game,” added Lee. “This is a good boost for our confidence. We know we can do it now, and now we just need to take it to the next level. I think we will be even hungrier for the next one,” added Olson-Thorne. 

Hong Kong team for Match 1 (10/12/22) versus Kazakhstan: 

Forwards: LEE Ka-shun (co-capt); CHOW Mei-nam; Roshini TURNER; Fion GOT Yuei Tein; Iris LAM Tim- yeung; Chloe BALTAZAR; Micayla BALTAZAR; Maggie AU YEUNG Sin-yi; Agnes CHAN Tsz-ching; Ball NG Ki-sum; Duc LAM Tsz-yan; WONG Yuen-shan; Rosetti TSANG Hoi-laam

Backs: Natasha OLSON-THORNE; Jess HO Wai-on; Jess EDEN; Aileen RYAN; Vivian POON Hoi-yan; Zoe SMITH; Georgia RIVERS; Cherly SO Yee-kei; Sabay LYNAM; QIAN Jiayu