Korea overpower Volcanoes to secure final spot in 2015 Top Three
South Korea defeated the Philippines 52-22 on Saturday to take third place in the 2014 Asian Five Nations and secure the final spot in next year’s revamped Top Three competition.
South Korea defeated the Philippines 52-22 on Saturday to take third place in the 2014 Asian Five Nations and secure the final spot in next year’s revamped Top Three competition.
Japan and Hong Kong, who face off in Tokyo on Sunday, have already booked their places in the 2015 tournament involving the region’s top three national sides.
The Koreans put on a display of running rugby against the Volcanoes in Laguna, scoring four tries in each half, with the first four all coming from deep within their own territory.
Winger Jeong Yong-sik, 20, opening the visitors account with a brace inside the first 10 minutes and the Koreans never looked back. Centre Kim Nam-uk and fullback Jang Seong-min added one each to put the Koreans ahead 28-15 at the break, with fly-half Oh Youn-hyun successful on all four conversion attempts.
Philippines captain Oliver Saunders scored and converted his own effort, while fullback Michael Letts also crossed over before the interval. Saunders knocked over a late first-half penalty to keep the hosts in touch.
But the Korean pack found their feet eight minutes after the restart, with number eight Kim Hyun-soo crossing over, closely followed by centre Kim adding his second and widening the gap.
