「世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」烏拉圭站 男子隊連贏五場 以亞軍結束南美之旅 女子隊勝出名次賽獲第七名
Hong Kong China men finish runners-up in Uruguay, Women finish in 7th place
[香港，2024年3月11日] 中國香港男、女子七人欖球隊不枉長途跋涉飛到南美出戰烏拉圭比賽，在香港時間周一早上完成「滙豐世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」三站比賽中的第二站後，港隊在積分榜一路上升，有助出線五月底馬德里總決賽，這對爭取2025年世界七人欖球系列賽的參賽資格至關重要。
結束烏拉圭第二站比賽後，中國香港男子隊在挑戰者系列賽積分榜由第七位升至第五位，女子隊在今站連續兩次擊敗上站亞軍肯雅，排名由第十位升至第八位。完成三站挑戰者系列賽後（最後一站是五月中德國慕尼黑），在積分榜位列頭四名的球隊將進入五月底於馬德里舉行的總決賽，跟滙豐世界七人欖球系列賽位列尾四的球隊進行一次升、降級的附加賽，成績最好的四支球隊將獲2025年世界七人欖球系列賽的全年參賽權。
在周一早上的比賽，中國香港男子隊在決賽力戰下以0:28不敵東道主烏拉圭，女子隊在名次賽表現出色，以27:22再次令上站亞軍肯雅稱臣，以第七名完成比賽。
今站南美之旅對中國香港隊而言是沒有退路之戰，中國香港男子隊在上站杜拜表現未如理想，位列挑戰者系列賽第七位，但只有積分榜排名頭四位才獲得出線西班牙的附加賽，所以港隊在今仗是志在必得，儘管跟東道主的決賽遭遇障礙，但能在今站頭五場比賽，包括三場小組賽以及兩場淘汰賽都能發揮出色，及時拉窄排名積分的差距，對出線五月總決賽又拉近一步。
這次南美之旅亦令一向不為所動的團隊留下深刻印象。
中國香港男子隊教練高勳（Jevon Groves）表示：「我對球隊在本周末的表現非常滿意，經過杜拜第一站比賽後，大部份人都覺得躋身五月總決賽是遙不可及，但他們在這裡表現應有的實力，我們已有好一段時間沒發揮到我們最好的一面，但在這周末、在這級別的比賽，是我們隊員齊心合力，打得最好的一次。」
「對烏拉圭的決賽，我們確實感到失望，但我們從中汲取了一些教訓，球員們都很享受在這裡每一場比賽，這很好，以前我們在南美戰績總是不佳。」
中國香港男子隊在烏拉圭僅於決賽見負，可望在下站慕尼黑延續好表現，如願躋身「滙豐世界七人欖球挑戰者系列賽」積分榜前四位，得以晉級至五月馬德里升、降班附加賽。
在周一凌晨對肯雅的準決賽一役，華將李卡度表現亮麗，在上半場梅開二度，加上史戴爾斯踢入附加罰球，港隊領先14:0，雖然對方也不示弱，兩分鐘後成功達陣，但港隊仍以14:7完上半場。麥古洛在下半場把握機會達陣，取得他個人在本賽第二個入球，協助港隊領先21:7；肯雅在終場哨聲響起前將比分縮窄，但無補於事，港隊最終以21:14獲勝，首次鎖定2024挑戰者系列賽的決賽席位。
教練高勳表示：「我們跟肯雅的交鋒發揮出色，之前幾場勝利令我們建立起自信，我們堅持作戰計策，成功擾亂對方的節奏，更取得幾個漂亮達陣。在比賽中，我隊打破了肯雅快速而鬆散的球風，他們有一些高大的球員，亦跑得很賣力，我們不斷加強防守，盡最大努力阻止他們入球。」
在決賽對陣烏拉圭，是港隊在今季挑戰者系列賽的第二次碰頭，對上一次是一月杜拜第一站，當時港隊負0:33，今次港隊也未能從對手拿到任何甜頭，這隊東道主在開波一分鐘已成功達陣，加上港隊隊長拜恩因嚴重的足踝傷被逼提早離場，令港隊雪上加霜，對方上、下半場共有四個入球，港隊最終以0:28敗陣。
高勳說：「烏拉圭在這些比賽非常有經驗，我們賽前部署是要一開波就快速啟動，但面對烏拉圭主場球迷的激情及高昂的情緒，且對方很快就達陣，打亂我們部署。這場決賽有點令人失望，因為我們偏離了劇本，未能在壓力下執行戰術。」
「但我們從這場比賽獲益良多，從周末每一場比賽都學到很多，對球員及球隊也了解更多。現在我們可以在下月的香港國際七人欖球賽及五月挑戰者系列賽最後一站的慕尼黑站，好好利用這些經驗。」
經過頭兩站挑戰者系列賽後，中國香港男子隊目前位列積分榜第五名，與排名第四的德國隊（26分）同分，但由於在得失分上有8分差距，港隊暫時落後一位。五月中慕尼黑站是終極之戰，屆時德國將佔有主場優勢。
中國香港女子隊在八強以17:22些微分差負烏干達，無緣準決賽，但無損她們在周一凌晨的名次賽的決心，再次擊敗肯雅，奪得第七名。
在名次賽中，港隊要員莊嘉欣大演帽子戲法，連續三次成功達陣，肯雅只有一次回應，港隊曾領先17:5；雖然中段對手追近至只有兩分差距，但奧亞娜隨即勇敢向達陣區前衝，加上藍嘉敏賽事還剩幾秒鐘時，取得入球，港隊將比分拉開至27:15，雖然對方最後以一個達陣完場，但無阻港隊在本賽第二次再勝肯雅，比分是27:22。
中國香港女子隊在今站表現令人讚賞，在積分榜上從第十位攀升至第八位，落後泰國一位，今站奪冠的中國娘子軍繼續位列榜首，這亦是中國隊繼上一站後，再奪后冠殊榮，以40分完美稱霸挑戰者系列賽。
「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, 11 March 2024]: The Hong Kong China Rugby representative sevens squads climbed the table of the HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series in Montevideo this weekend after the second of three qualifying events for a spot on the HSBC SVNS series.
Hong Kong, China’s men’s team reached the final to move into fifth place on the 12-team table, while the women beat Kenya for a second time on the weekend to climb from tenth to eighth in the overall standings. The top four teams from the Challenger competitions will join a play-off at the HSBC SVNS in Madrid to determine spots on next season’s HSBC SVNS.
Hong Kong were beaten in the final by hosts Uruguay, 28-0, while the women won the seventh place play-off against Kenya, 27-22.
Despite the hurdles against Uruguay, it was a clutch performance for the men’s seven, who had failed to fire in the Series opener in Dubai and entered Montevideo in seventh place. Only the top four advance to the promotion play-off in Spain this spring so Hong Kong had to perform – and had to travel to the other side of the world to do it.
The outing impressed even the typically stoic management team.
“I am really pleased with how we performed this weekend. Coming in some of us thought that reaching the playoff might be out of reach after the opening tournament, but the boys really showed up. That was some of the best rugby that we have played in some time in a tournament of that level,” said Hong Kong men’s sevens coach Jevon Groves.
“We are disappointed in the final, but I think we have taken some good learnings from it. The boys really enjoyed their appearance here, which was great because South America has not been a happy hunting ground for us previously.”
The saving throw in Uruguay keeps Hong Kong in contention to finish in the top four of the HSBC World Rugby Challenger series and earn a spot in the promotion-relegation play-off at the Madrid Sevens later this year.
Hong Kong beat Kenya 21-14 in the semi-final with Cado Lee scoring a brace. Hugo Stiles’ conversions gave Hong Kong an early 14-0 lead before Kenya replied to bring the score to 14-7. Forward Callum McCullough’s second try of the weekend pushed Hong Kong out to 21-7, which Kenya cut to 21-14 at the final hooter, but Hong Kong had booked its first finals appearance of the 2024 Challenger.
“We played very well against Kenya. That win built our confidence from the first couple of days. We stuck to what we wanted to do in breaking up their tempo, and scored some nice tries. We worked hard to break their fast and loose style; Kenya have some big men and they run hard, so our boys worked hard in defence to contain that.,” said Groves.
Hong Kong’s hopes were dashed early on in the final with Uruguay scoring from the kick-off, before adding three further tries as they shut out Hong Kong for a second time in 2024. What could be a serious ankle injury for captain Seb Brien compounded matters as he left the field early on.
“Uruguay are very very experienced in these games. We talked about starting quick, but at home the passion and emotion of Uruguay was a bit too much. We really want to focus on starting well in environments like that, but they scored right away. The final was a bit disappointing in that we got off script and were not able to execute under pressure.
“But we learned a lot from the final. We learned a lot from the weekend and we learned a lot about the players and squad. Now we can put these learnings to good use in Hong Kong next month and in Munich in May [ed: site of the final Challenger Men’s competition],” Groves added.
Hong Kong, China are now ranked 5th on the 2024 Challenger standings after two tournaments, level on points with fourth-ranked Germany (26) but with an -8 points differential separating the two sides. Germany will have an edge when they host the Challenger finale in Munich in May.
Hong Kong, China’s women’s team put the disappointment of being narrowly eliminated from the Cup competition behind them to beat Kenya for a second time this weekend to grab seventh place.
Hong Kong won 27-22 behind a natural hat trick from Chong Ka Yan whose three tries were only met with one reply as Hong Kong jumped out to a 17-5 lead. Kenya maintained their composure to whittle the margin back to 17-15 at one point, but Hong Kong again pulled clear with tries from Julia Mba Oyana and Nam Ka Man giving them a comfortable 27-15 lead with seconds remaining. Kenya scored a consolation try to close the margin to five points at 27-22 but time ran out on their fight back.
The successful weekend for the women saw them climb from tenth place to eighth place in the standings, one behind Thailand. China women continue to dominate the Challenger. They won their second straight Cup and dominate the table with a perfect 40 points from two events.
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
