Asia Rugby Sevens Series: perfect Hong Kong make it 3 from 3, as coach Jevon Groves hails real team effort
- Victory over hosts UAE sees Hong Kong defend series title, and triumph earns team spot in qualification tournament for HSBC World Series
- Max Denmark finishes with 17 tries over two legs of series and Groves say he’s a ‘real point of difference’ for team
Hong Kong’s men successfully defended their Asia Rugby Sevens Series title with a 21-7 over hosts UAE in Al Ain on Sunday.
Victory made it a perfect three from three for coach Jevon Groves’ side, in a competition in which the only minor blip on an otherwise spotless record was a draw with UAE in Korea.
Groves called the win “a good result in the end” after a scrappy and penalty-strewn final, but he said completing the hat-trick was “hugely pleasing”. The triumph also earned Hong Kong a spot in the qualification tournament for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series next year.
“We were good in patches, but we made it difficult on occasion,” Groves said. “The boys really stepped up in the end. UAE gave us a real challenge. They were in their first final and at home, it was an emotional moment for them, but I think we controlled the ball well when it counted.
“In Thailand at the beginning of the series we talked about wanting to be consistent and I think we have showed that consistency in the three Asian series legs, and we showed glimpses of it at the Hong Kong Sevens.
“We used all 21 of the senior players in the squad this series and everyone got a true opportunity, which is great for the team as a whole.”
With South Korea the only side who could have denied Hong Kong a series title getting knocked out early, Hong Kong were crowned before the first ball was kicked in anger.
But they did not let that distract them, and tries from Liam Herbet and Russ Webb put them 14-0 up at half-time.
