hkfc_2024_05_mag

RUGBY
performances against the tournament’s
2 other debutants (Shandong Rugby
Club & Papua New Guinea) and last
year’s finalists Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix.
DAY 2
With one day of exciting pool play
down, our eyes turned towards
knockout rugby on Day 2. In the
Women’s Cup quarterfinals, Haywards
Tropics, China Five Stars & Shandong
Rugby Club all comfortably won, with
the closest of the quarters being a rematch
of the 2023 Cup Final between
RKS Shogun RFC and Tokyo Sankyu
Phoenix, with RKS Shogun RFC once
again prevailing.
The Men’s Cup quarterfinals also
saw comfortable wins for 3 teams
(Shogun RFC, Tradition YCAC and PAC
Baabaas), with the closest match being
between Ashbury Tropics (featuring
Fiji International Nemani Nadolo) and
Streamline Sports Overseas Old Boys:
a last-minute penalty goal saw Ashbury
Tropics snatch an 8-7 win.
The women’s semi-finals were hotly
contested, with only 1 try separating
both matches. Shandong dealt RKS
Shogun with their first defeat at the 10s
ever, scoring from close range to deny
RKS Shogun a second straight title (5-
0). The other semi-final saw Haywards
Tropics beaten by China Five Stars by
10-7: despite a brilliant solo effort by
Black Ferns 7s and 15s stars Kelsey
Teneti, China showed great resolve to
score in the corner on full-time.
Similar drama was replicated in the
men’s semi-finals: a bruising encounter
between Ashbury Tropics and PAC
Baabaas saw PAC Baabaa’s Australia 7s
squad members shine (Conor Hickey,
Dally Bird and James McGregor) as they
raced to a 28-12 victory. In the other
semi-final, Tradition YCAC saw their title
hopes dashed with an incredible touchline
conversion on full-time by Shogun
RFC player Brayton Northcott-Hill.
The Women’s Final was an All China
affair, as China Five Stars faced off
against Shandong Rugby Club. China
Five Stars, led by Performance Coach
Sir Gordon Tietjens were too good for
Shandong running in 4 tries to win by
26-0.
MAY 2024 9