Hong Kong hold on for win over Kenya in Cup of Nations
Leigh Jones’ charges win their final game with a nervy 40-30 victory over the Africans as Russia defend tournament title
Hong Kong held on for a 40-30 win over Kenya to capture second place in the 2017 Cup of Nations tournament on Saturday night at Hong Kong Football Club.
After a scare from the hosts in the opening round [a 16-13 win], Russia cruised past Kenya in round two and dispatched Chile earlier on Saturday, 42-11, to claim their third straight Cup of Nations title.
Hong Kong jumped out to a convincing lead in the finale after tries from winger Conor Hartley and flanker Toby Fenn and a conversion and penalty from fly half Matt Rosslee gave the hosts a 15-0 advantage after just 12 minutes. Kenya’s only reply in the opening stages came from the boot of winger Darwin Mukidza, whose two first-half penalties kept his side within touching distance.
Centre Lex Kaleca scored Hong Kong’s third try as the hosts exploited the Kenyan defenders’ inability to bring their opponents down cleanly, with wave after wave of attacks crossing the gain-line. Rosslee’s conversion extended Hong Kong’s margin to 22-6.
The floodgates were seemingly poised to open for Hong Kong, who spent most of the half deep in enemy territory. All three early tries were simple affairs, coming from second and third phase possession. Scrum-half Jamie Hood and Rosslee showed quick hands and good decision-making to release the attack in waves, while Jack Neville, playing at fullback for the first time in a test, picked opportune moments to enter the line and create overlaps in the defence. Neville had a livewire debut at fullback, showing genuine pace and a good eye for the gap as he regularly sprang long runs that left the Kenyan defence scrambling, but also just outpaced his support.
