The 2007 ARFU (Asia) Junior Championship kicked off last night in Brunei with Hong Kong scoring a confidence-boosting win in their bid to beat five other teams to the region’s spot at the inaugural IRB Junior World Trophy in Chile next April.
Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Korea and Sri Lanka are contesting the Junior Cup competition - the winners will join host nation Chile, Uruguay, Jamaica, Namibia, Georgia and Romania at the eight-team IRB Junior World Trophy - while six others - hosts Brunei, Chinese Taipei, India, Laos, the Philippines and the Arabian Gulf - are contesting the Junior Trophy, the winner of which will be promoted to next year’s Cup competition.
The tournament, which runs until 22 December, does not feature Japan as they are already confirmed as Asia’s representatives at the IRB Junior World Championship in Wales in June 2008 - the top tier of the new Under 20 competitions.
Sri Lanka 12-6 Thailand
On day one Thailand were unlucky not to cause the first upset of the tournament when they lost dramatically to Sri Lanka in the final minutes.
Leading 6-0, Thailand’s impressive defence had fended off Sri Lanka’s best efforts, centres Sirihai Daothawong and Myawatt Chunkoh outstanding in their tackling against the larger opposition. However, in the final throes of the match Sri Lankan Bilal Hassen barged over to put his side back in the match and the successful conversion by Harsha Weerakkool put them in front for the first time.
In their attempt to regain the lead, Thailand turned the ball over in the final passage of play and Gayan Weerarathe scampered down the touch line to score.
Korea 27-12 Singapore
One of the pre-tournament favourites Korea confirmed their status with a comfortable win other a determined Singapore side.
Korea rushed to a 22-point lead in the first half with Singapore struggling to contain the deceptive runners In Kyu Kim and Dae Kyu Lim, who both scored a brace of tries. Singapore finished the stronger of the teams scoring twice in the second half.
Hong Kong 14-0 Malaysia
In the clash of the top two seeds Hong Kong won a scrappy game against Malaysia. Both sides struggled to maintain their discipline and will be looking for stronger performances in the semi finals, Hong Kong largely reliant on the steady kicking of Gavin Hadley, who landed three penalties.
The next round of matches in the Asian Cup are the semi finals featuring Malaysia against Korea and Hong Kong against Sri Lanka.
Two matches are to be played on Saturday 15 December in the Asian Trophy, Chinese Taipei taking on the Arabian Gulf and hosts Brunei playing against India.
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