HK shows its class in Shanghai

Hong Kong crushed host China 40-10 to win the Shanghai Sevens on Sunday to underline its growing status as one of the top teams in Asia.

Two tries each from outstanding fly-half Jamie Hood and nuggety center Lee Jones allowed Hong Kong to dominate China in the Cup final and finish the second leg of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series on an emphatic and unbeaten note.

The victory will push Hong Kong to the top of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series standings with one more ranking leg remaining - next month's Mumbai Sevens where Japan will be back after missing out in Shanghai due to extenuating circumstances.

Reigning Asian Sevens champion Japan pulled out of the mainland tournament in the wake of local protests amid political tensions in Sino-Japanese relations.

Japan's absence gave Hong Kong carte blanche to stamp its authority and it took it with both hands, winning all six matches at the Yuanshen Stadium to ease to its first title this season. Japan won the opening leg in Borneo.

"This is our first ranking tournament win in two years. Now, if we finish anywhere above Japan in Mumbai, that will be enough to give us the overall crown," said a pleased Hong Kong national coach Dai Rees.

Hong Kong began the day by winning its remaining pool game against the United Arab Emirates, 42-0. Understudy to Hood, Ben Rimene was in impressive form, scoring a brace of tries and adding another 12 points with the boot to total 22.

Two tries from Alex McQueen spearheaded Hong Kong's 40-7 rout of Taiwan in the semifinals. The final was also all one-way traffic as China failed to find an answer to stop the rampaging Hong Kong outfit which ran in a total of six tries. Hood was named best and fairest player of the tournament.

"Jamie was superb. We were missing our magician Keith Robertson but Jamie has shown we have moved on. He has come in and slotted in brilliantly," said Rees.

The winner of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series will have an added incentive after the International Rugby Board this week announced that it would earn a spot against the 15 core teams at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. This could also result in an automatic berth at the qualifying competition for core team status at the season-ending London Sevens, the ninth and final leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.