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Paul McNamara

Hong Kong Football Club head coach Logan Asplin was wrestling with an “empty feeling” after his side retained their Nan Fung / Sewit Men’s Premiership crown despite losing a topsy-turvy encounter 21-20 against closest rivals Sandy Bay on Saturday.
HKFC crept over the line, finishing with three successive defeats following an unbeaten 12-match run from the start of the season.
Sandy Bay ended the campaign strongly, adding victory at So Kon Po Recreation Ground to slender victories over Valley and HK Scottish in the past fortnight.
When Sibusiso Sithole went under the posts and Charl Janson added the extras with around 15 minutes left, Sandy Bay needed a bonus-point fourth try to claim their first title.

HKFC, aware that defeat by no more than six points was sufficient to prevent that, manned the barricades and reined in their attacking instincts, although Asplin “had not talked about the potential permutations to the whole group”.
“They are smart enough, and our leaders were aware of the different scenarios,” Asplin said.
Anticlimax swept over the ground at full-time, an audible and visible contrast to the frantic closing minutes.
“If anyone offered you silverware at the start of the year, you would take it,” Asplin said. “But I have a little bit of an empty feeling. It is pretty hard to win a league, but we lost three games on the bounce, and this group has not done that very often.
“We did not win this league today, we won it from the start of preseason, with the attitude we brought in.”
Sandy Bay twice led in the opening half, with tries from captain Lusanda Badiyana and Zean Augustyn, who drove over after sustained pressure with HKFC missing the sin-binned Ben Axten-Burrett.
Those scores sandwiched John McCormick-Houston touching down after a drive close to the line. Ben Smith went over in the corner for a try brilliantly converted by Glyn Hughes to level the scores.
A couple of Hughes penalties after the restart gave HKFC the upper hand, but Sithole set up the grandstand finish.
Marno Meyer, the Sandy Bay head coach, said: “I have mixed emotions. We said at the beginning of the season we wanted to compete for the league. We implemented certain values and themes … and the boys bought into them.”

Meyer pointed to a 17-17 draw with HKFC in November and January’s surprise defeat by DAC Kowloon as the fixtures when the title got away.
Asplin hopes to regain momentum for next weekend’s Grand Championship semi-finals between the top four. He viewed victories over HK Scottish before Christmas and over Valley with a depleted team February as pivotal moments.
“I am happy for the players,” Asplin said. “It is easy to get myself stuck in this, being my full-time job. But for these guys, it is a really small part of their being. They work five days a week, some are dads and husbands, so for them to enjoy it, and reap the rewards of what they have created, is pretty cool.”


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Hong Kong Rugby Union

Nan Fung / Sewit Men’s Premiership: Hong Kong Football Club lose thriller to Sandy Bay but pip them to league title

Hong Kong Football Club players celebrate with the trophy on Saturday. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

HKFC’s Westyn Cobb is smothered as Sandy Bay almost foiled his team’s title bid. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

 Lusanda Badayana scored Sandy Bay’s opening try at So Kon Po Recreation Ground. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong’s men crush Japan in flying start to World Rugby Sevens Challenger event in Uruguay

Hong Kong’s Max Denmark breaks through the Chile defence at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger series in Uruguay. Photo: World Rugby


Hong Kong's Maggie Au attacks the Belgium defence. Photo: World Rugby

Hong Kong star Denmark hoping Dupont-factor helps ‘growing’ sevens share rugby spotlight with big brother 15s

Max Denmark and his Hong Kong teammates are in Uruguay for the next leg of the World Challenger Series. Photo: HKCRU

France’s Antoine Dupont runs with the ball during the 2024 HSBC Rugby Sevens Los Angeles tournament. Photo: AFP

Max Denmark takes part in a training session at King’s Park Sports Ground. Photo: Ike Images

Hong Kong rugby Premiership goes to a decider, but the big questions are off pitch

Josh Hrstich, the Football Club No 8, is driven back on a day when his side’s title hopes also met resistance. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Zinzan Hansen of Valley collects a lineout throw at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Nyasha Tarusenga of Valley is tackled by Football Club players, but his side were to prevail. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Antoine Dupont caps stunning arrival in sevens as France win first tournament in 19 years in Los Angeles

France’s Antoine Dupont and teammates celebrate after winning the 2024 HSBC Rugby Sevens Los Angeles tournament final men’s match against Great Britain at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on March 3, 2024. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

France’s Antoine Dupont (second from left) and his teammates after winning the Los Angeles leg of the global sevens series. Photo: AFP

Dupont joins the team celebrations after beating Great Britain in the final. Photo: AFP

Dupont on his way to scoring a try in the semi-final 26-24 win against Ireland. Photo: AFP

Michaela Blyde evades Faith Nathan to score one of her three tries. Photo: AFP

Sport

Rugby

Fifteens

Men's HKRU Premiership

HKFC coach Logan Asplin credits winning start to season after lifting silverware despite his side’s third loss in a row
Sandy Bay left needing one more try at the death, but Asplin’s players do enough to deny their late-season surge and retain the trophy


Sandy Bay left needing one more try at the death to steal the crown, but HKFC do enough to deny their late-season surge and retain the trophy.


Nan Fung / Sewit Men’s Premiership: Hong Kong Football Club lose thriller to Sandy Bay but pip them to league title

HKFC coach Logan Asplin credits winning start to season after lifting silverware despite his side’s third loss in a row Sandy Bay left needing one more try at the death, but Asplin’s players do enough to deny their late-season surge and retain the trophy

HKFC coach Logan Asplin credits winning start to season after lifting silverware despite his side’s third loss in a row

Sandy Bay left needing one more try at the death, but Asplin’s players do enough to deny their late-season surge and retain the trophy