Hong Kong HSBC SVNS Series Hopes Dimmed by Defeats to Madagascar and Canada
The Hong Kong men’s rugby team encountered significant setbacks in their HSBC SVNS Series campaign after losing to Madagascar and Canada in Cape Town. These defeats have jeopardized their qualification hopes, placing them last in their pool and requiring a swift recovery to remain competitive. Coach Paul John expressed disappointment in the team’s performances, emphasizing the need for improvement as they approach critical matches ahead.
Hong Kong’s HSBC SVNS Series ambitions have significantly diminished following a devastating defeat to Madagascar. The men’s rugby team suffered a narrow 21-19 loss to the newly promoted East African side in Cape Town, which was compounded by a subsequent 21-12 defeat to Canada. These results placed Hong Kong at the bottom of their pool, leaving them in a precarious position as they aim to salvage their standing in the tournament.
Paul John, the head of Hong Kong Sevens rugby, expressed his disappointment regarding the team’s performances and their impact on qualification hopes. “We are disappointed with our performances and results … we were better in the second game; however, we put ourselves in a tough situation [because of] our performance in that opening loss,” John noted, emphasizing the challenges ahead.
Before the tournament commenced, coach Peter Jericevich had described Madagascar as a potentially unpredictable competitor. However, the reality of their capabilities became evident in the closing minutes of the match when Hong Kong lost Matteo Avitabile to a yellow card, allowing Madagascar’s Mamy Herilala Ranaivoarison to convert a pivotal try by Rado Randrianalisoa, sealing Hong Kong’s fate.
Under the captaincy of Cado Lee Ka-to, due to James Christie’s injury, Hong Kong initially took an impressive lead, scoring twice within the first four minutes through tries from Jack Combes and Liam Herbert. As a result, the team’s prospects of securing a higher finish now hinge on their ability to perform effectively in their forthcoming matches in the series.
Only the top four teams from this series will qualify for the promotion playoffs in Los Angeles, while Hong Kong finds themselves fighting for survival in the Challenger Series with only the top eight advancing to the leg in Poland.
In summary, the Hong Kong men’s rugby team faces a crucial challenge to revive their HSBC SVNS Series aspirations following unexpected losses to Madagascar and Canada. The team’s disappointing performance has placed them in a precarious position, necessitating strong results in upcoming matches to ensure progression and avoid relegation. Leadership under Cado Lee Ka-to will be essential as they strive to turn their fortunes around.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
