The Hong Kong men’s rugby team suffered unexpected losses against Madagascar and Canada during the HSBC SVNS Series in Cape Town, leaving them at the bottom of their pool. With hopes of qualifying for the Los Angeles playoffs dwindling, the team must perform exceptionally in the upcoming games to ensure their survival in the series.
The Hong Kong men’s rugby team faced severe setbacks in their HSBC SVNS Series aspirations following a surprising defeat at the hands of Madagascar during the Challenger Series in Cape Town. They lost the match 21-19 to the newly promoted East African team, which was followed by a 21-12 defeat against Canada, leaving Hong Kong at the bottom of their pool. With limited prospects, their best chance now is to secure a ninth-place finish on Sunday, but they are perilously close to jeopardizing their chances in the series altogether.
With the series culminating in April in Krakow, only the top four teams from this three-leg competition will advance to the promotion playoffs in Los Angeles in May. Currently, Hong Kong is fighting for survival, as only the top eight out of twelve teams from the upcoming second leg in Cape Town will qualify for the final round in Poland. Paul John, head of Hong Kong sevens rugby, expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, emphasizing how they created a difficult situation for themselves due to their initial loss.
Prior to the tournament, Coach Peter Jericevich had remarked that Madagascar represented an uncertain challenge. However, the Hong Kong team became acutely aware of the threat posed by their opponents after a critical moment in the match, wherein a yellow card for Matteo Avitabile proved detrimental. The game swung in Madagascar’s favor after Mamy Herilala Ranaivoarison successfully converted Rado Randrianalisoa’s try following a pivotal 70-meter run.
In the absence of injured captain James Christie, Cado Lee Ka-to led the team, who initially surged to a 14-0 lead within the first four minutes, thanks to converted tries from Jack Combes and Liam Herbert. This promising start, however, was overshadowed by their inability to maintain their advantage, ultimately resulting in their disappointing exit from contention.
In conclusion, the Hong Kong men’s rugby team encountered significant obstacles in their HSBC SVNS Series campaign after unexpected defeats against Madagascar and Canada. With their position precariously low, the team must now fight to salvage their series hopes in the upcoming matches. The challenge is steep as they look to rebound and secure a spot in the promotion playoffs.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
