「世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」烏拉圭站 男子隊旗開得勝連贏兩場 女子隊爆冷力挫上站亞軍肯雅
Hot start for Hong Kong China Sevens at Challenger Series in Uruguay
[香港，2024年3月9日] 中國香港男、女子七人欖球隊周五（8號）在烏拉圭舉行的「世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」第二站小組賽取得開門紅，為日天比賽打了強心針。
周五的比賽中，中國香港女子隊率先上場硬碰一月杜拜第一站挑戰者系列賽的亞軍肯亞，港隊憑隊長高香慧兩次成功達陣以及隊中頑強的防守，以12:0爆冷「零封」強頑的肯雅，令對手目瞪口呆。
打開勝利之門的中國香港女子隊在同日第二場小組賽，未能延續首場勝仗的威勢，以5:24告負。港隊在開局大部份時間都能扺擋住比利時的猛烈攻勢，可惜在臨完半場前被對手連續兩次達陣成功，港隊以0:12落後。換邊後的港隊沒得到任何甜頭，比利時隊再次梅開二度，將比分進一步擴大，港隊落後0:24；雖然隨後有港將韋嘉芘拉成功達陣，但為時已晚，最㚵港隊以5:24完場。
中國香港女子隊在首天比賽後錄得一勝一負，在B組暫時位列次席，香港時間周六晚上10時59分出戰小組最後一場比賽，將對巴布亞新畿內亞。
中國香港男子隊在烏拉圭首天比賽表現大勇，甫開波已給人眼前一亮，在小組第一場比賽面對「宿敵」日本，港隊以42:7大勝，創下兩隊交鋒史上最大的勝仗比分。
港、日之戰由杜靴迪先開紀錄，他在開場僅兩分鐘已找到對方缺口，成功達陣，今仗傷癒復出的史戴爾斯緊接成功踢入附加罰球，港隊領先7:0。手風甚順的港隊沒停下腳步，隊友李卡度、丹馬克、拜恩前後建功，在完半場時，港隊已拉開比分至28:0。
下半場仍是中國香港男子隊主導全場，李卡度及拜恩食髓知味繼續找到達陣的路線，再次達陣成功，再次主理附加罰球的史戴爾斯及菲立斯亦應記一功，港隊以大分42:0領先，日本只能在臨完場前一分鐘取得一個達陣，但為時已晚，港隊最終以42:7取得小組第一場勝利。
中國香港男子隊休息數小時後越戰越勇，在小組賽第二場比賽以19:14擊敗上一站亞軍智利，港隊陣中的丹馬克大演帽子戲法，連中三元，助港隊保持不敗之身。
年青的丹馬克延續港隊入局快的強勢，開局一分鐘已找到對方缺口，成功達陣，加上史戴爾斯的附加罰球，港隊領先7:0，但智利隊很快還以顏色，並在完半場前兩度達陣，令港隊落後7:14。
下半場一開局，達陣功臣丹馬克再次展示他的突圍能力，在今場比賽第二度成功達陣，加上史戴爾斯的附加罰球百發百中，港隊此刻追至14:14平手。賽事進入高潮，丹馬克再次成為奠勝英雄，在尾段再次突破對方防線瞓身達陣，港隊終以19:14奠定勝局。
港隊隊長拜恩賽後表示：「能夠以兩場勝利去展開烏拉圭之旅，我們都感到很高興，每次跟日本的對抗都很艱難，而能在智利身上取得勝仗，這些都令人很驚訝。今晚我們帶著喜悅回到酒店，但我們目光已放在半準決賽。」
「我們有信心一路走下去，上一站（一月第一站挑戰者系列賽）有點令人失望，所以我們會認真對待每一場比賽，我們會在淘汰賽階段繼續努力，希望能殺入決賽。」
完成小組賽頭兩場比賽後，中國香港男子隊以6分領先B組的智利（4分）及日本隊（3分），暫居B組榜首，周日凌晨12時40分將對同組的墨西哥隊。
「世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」（蒙特維多站）：香港男子隊成員名單：
拜恩（隊長）、蔡紀駿、丹馬克、杜靴迪、房傑鋒、靴貝特、李卡度、麥古洛、虎拿當尼、菲立斯、占士梳亞、薩耶斯、史戴爾斯
「世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」（蒙特維多站）：香港女子隊成員名單：
高香慧（隊長）、歐陽倩怡、巴達莎皓兒、巴達莎米奇拉，陳芷晴、莊嘉欣、霍山文、馮凱晴、林芷欣、藍嘉敏、奧亞娜、潘凱恩、韋嘉芘拉
資料及相片來源 : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong China Rugby
[Hong Kong, 9 March 2024]: The Hong Kong China Rugby men’s and women’s sevens squads had a positive opening to the second of three HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series events in Uruguay overnight.
The women shocked Kenya in their first match of the tournament as they pitched a shut-out over the runners-up at the opening tournament in Dubai in January, 12-0, behind two tries from captain Natasha Olson-Thorne and some tenacious defence.
Hong Kong could not maintain the momentum in their second match of the day losing to a physical Belgium seven, 24-5.
Hong Kong held off some furious attacks from Belgium for most of the opening frame but allowed two late tries near half-time to trail 12-0 at the break. The Belgians struck twice again midway through the second stanza to push the lead to 24-0 before Gabriella Rivers managed a consolation try for Hong Kong. She missed her conversion as Belgium ran out 24-5 winners.
Hong Kong were in second in Pool B overnight with a final pool match on Saturday in Montevideo against Papua New Guinea at 22.59 Saturday evening Hong Kong time.
The men managed an even more challenging task with aplomb. The day started with a hammering of rugby rivals Japan with one of the highest winning margins ever seen in matches between the teams as Hong Kong ran out 42-7 winners.
Liam Doherty opened the scoring in just the second minute with Hugo Stiles’ slotting the conversion for a 7-0 lead. Cado Lee, Max Denmark and Seb Brien added tries down the half with Stiles keeping his conversion streak alive, as Hong Kong led 28-0 at the break.
Lee and Brien added scores in the final half with Stiles and Bryn Phillips each slotting a conversion before Japan managed a consolation try to close out the game, 42-7.
Hong Kong then dispatched Chile, runners-up in Dubai last month, 19-14, behind a hat trick of tries from Max Denmark and the boot of Hugo Stiles.
Denmark continued the trend of strong starts for Hong Kong as he scored his first after just one minute with Stiles converting. Chile struck back in the fifth minute to level the scores, then took the lead into the break 14-7 with a second try before half-time.
Denmark broke through again in the eighth minute to score. Stiles’ second conversion drew the match at 14-all with a tense battle ensuing in the final minutes before Denmark donned the heroes cap once again, scoring in the 14thminute to carry Hong Kong to victory.
Hong Kong China men’s captain Seb Brien said: “We’re really pleased to start with two wins. It was always going to be tough against Japan, we play them a lot and amazing to get one up on Chile too. We’ll go home tonight happy with day but it all really counts towards the quarter-final which our next aim.
“We have the belief to go all the way. Obviously the last tournament was a bit disappointing so we’re just taking it every game as it comes and we’ll build through the knock-outs and hope to go all the way to the final.”
Hong Kong topped Pool B overnight on six points ahead of Chile (four) and Japan (three) and with one more game remaining against Mexico on Saturday (00.40 on Sunday).
Hong Kong, China Men’s Seven for World Rugby Challenger Series (Montevideo): Seb BRIEN (Captain); James CHRISTIE; Max DENMARK; Liam DOHERTY; FONG Kit-Fung; Liam HERBERT; LEE Ka-to, Cado; Callum McCULLOUGH; Alessandro NARDONI; Bryn PHILLIPS; Harry SAYERS; Hugo STILES.
Hong Kong, China Women’s Sevens Squad for World Rugby Challenger Series (Montevideo): Natasha OLSON-THORNE (Captain); AU YEUNG Sin Yi; BALTAZAR, Chloe; BALTAZAR, Micayla; CHAN Tsz Ching; CHONG Ka Yan; FORREST, Shanna; FUNG Hoi Ching, Jasmine; NAM Ka Man; Julia MBA OYANA; POON Hoi Yan, Vivian; Gabriella RIVERS.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong China Rugby
