Amid sunshine and showers, Day 1 ofthe Asia Rugby U20 Sevens tournament at King’s Park today saw Hong Kong’s Men and Women make solid claims on their respective cups.

The Men’s team, seeded third, dealt out demonstration performances against Uzbekistan and Thailand, posting wins of 52-0 and 31-0 in their first two pool games, as they look to regain the top spot they held in 2014 and 2015 in this tournament.Against second-ranked South Korea, who took the title last year, the local boys faced sterner opposition but played a determined and disciplined game to rack up a devastating 38-0 victory.

“The team did very well, especially as almost half are only 18 years old.The performance reflects their hard training during the summer,” said coach Fan Shun Kei, of the day’s effort.

“The first two games were a good build-up for the Korea game.And then I thought our performance in the Korea game really showed what we can do.”

“Sri Lanka are quite physical and quite agile.They’ll always fight to the last, and on today’s performance they are up to their usual standard.It would be a great final for us to play them tomorrow.I’d call it a 50-50 game.”

Meanwhile, as Hong Kong’s senior women ready to take on the best at fifteens rugby, in the Rugby World Cup in Ireland next week, the next generation showed their prowess at sevens as Hong Kong Under20 Women.The girls also emphatically saw off their Day 1opposition, with wins of 310 over Singapore, 46-0 over Malaysiaand 39-0 over India.

Head Coach Mark Komar was “really pleased with the performance. I thought we improved game to game. The girls did really well at sticking with our systems, especially in defence, and that was reflected in the nils.”

However, the greater test will arrive tomorrow, when the localladiesface the stronger opposition of Thailand and, especially, China.Both teams had high-scoring wins today, but it was China that overcame the spirited Thais when they met.

Traditionally a two-leg series, the 2017 instalment of the annual competition features only this weekend’stwo-day tournament at King’s Park.

Tomorrow,Hong Kong's Men face just Singapore in the pool round, before play moves on to the knockout stage.

Before lining up against Thailand and China, Hong Kong women meet Uzbekistan, who lost their three games today.The winner of the women’s tournament is decided on the basis of the round-robin matches only.

Day 2 of the Asia Rugby U20 Sevens tournament kicks off 10.00am on Saturday 5 August, at King's Park, 11 Wylie Path, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon.