亞洲女子欖球錦標賽2024– 中國香港對日本賽果速報 HONG KONG CHINA WOMEN TEST JAPAN ALL THE WAY IN AWRC 2024 OPENER

亞洲女子欖球錦標賽今晚在京士柏運動場揭開序幕，中國香港隊面對日本惜敗12-29。

除日本及中國香港外，本屆參賽隊伍還包括哈薩克，賽事以單循環形式進行，其餘兩場比賽將於下星期舉行。值得一提，本賽事的優勝者將直接獲得 2025 年女子欖球世界盃的參賽資格，同時獲得WXV錦標賽第2級別的參賽資格。亞軍則可參加WXV錦標賽第3級別比賽，仍能角逐明年夏天在英格蘭舉行欖球世界盃的資格。

餘下兩場賽事5月27日（星期一）19:00日本對哈薩克 — 京士柏運動場（免費入場） 6月1日（星期六） 18:30中國香港女對哈薩克 — 香港足球會（當日同時舉行亞洲男子欖球錦標賽賽事中國香港男子15人對阿聯酋 (開球時間15:30) 須購票入場

完整比賽報告如下：

2024年亞洲女子欖球錦標賽首場賽事中，中國香港隊在全長80分鐘的對賽期間，不住向強敵日本施壓，縱然最終未能擊敗對手，但已為第二場對哈薩克的賽事，提升不少信心。

港隊惜敗12-29，但日本獲勝，實當之無愧。中國香港隊主教練陳朗詩表示：「我們傾盡全力，打足80分鐘。球員們的努力，有目共睹，我為她們感到非常自豪。」

上半場的防守英雄兩支球隊的隊長，中國香港隊的潘慧欣及日本櫻花15人隊的長田いろは（Iroha Nagata）同樣身穿7號球衣。今仗是長田第28場國際比賽，她曾帶領日本隊，參加2023年的亞洲女子欖球錦標賽，並獲得WXV錦標賽資格。

港隊只有4名首發球員，曾參加約1年前的亞洲女子欖球錦標賽，當時對手為哈薩克。

港隊(Fly-half)傳鋒馮凱晴及日本傳鋒大塚朱紗分別施展踢球技術，而日本稍勝一籌，獲得更有利位置；日本隊的界外爭邊球（lineout）亦上是半場的一大特色（比賽頭5分鐘已有3次），成功對港隊構成威脅。日本亦積極向港隊復地步步進逼，頻繁侵擾令港隊只能滯守後半場，未有突破。

上半場亦頻出現紀律問題—憑藉嚴密控球及施壓，日本獲得數次罰球，雖然首個鬥牛爭球（日本稍為佔優）一開始平分春色，但客隊其後勢頭愈盛。

七分鐘後，日本隊雖然有掉球之虞，但視像裁判判定香川メレ優愛ハヴィリ（Mele Yua Kakawa）成功達陣，日本遂以7-0領先。

中國香港不敢鬆懈，經驗豐富、同時亦是防守中堅的中鋒高香慧（Natasha Olson-Thorne）表現出色，阻截日本隊後衛從外突破，同時搏得數次「控球權轉移」(turnovers)的機會。

日本仍處於領先優勢，把握港隊的失誤，巧妙運用短邊路線，由隊長完成達陣，將比賽擴大至12-0。

港隊並非沒有入球機會。 Zoe Smith持續針對日本左路，唯難以突破日本隊的嚴密防守。霍山文（Shanna Forrest）在上半場以至整場比賽都孜孜不倦，為推進港隊陣線不遺餘力。

完上半場前，港隊高香慧被判黃牌，暫罰離場。然而，半場前並未有任何得分進賬。

下半場—港隊的反撃陳朗詩談及中場休息時的囑咐，表示：「球員們都明白只要保持控球，我們就有機會。」

下半場，港隊終於回復本色，河冬陽（Georgia Rivers）奮力控球，齊心合作，保持控球在手。即使少打一人，甫開場十分鐘，即對日本隊構成威脅。其後，高香慧重返賽場。憑藉良好節奏及控球，中國香港隊亦信心亦愈發增強，給予日本巨大壓力。Roshini Turner及潘慧欣處理界外爭邊球表現良好，惟日本雖未能突破，但亦頑強抵抗港隊，港隊同樣未能得分。

在雙方都取得罰球的情況下，日本隊（在下半場期間，罕有地闖進港隊腹地）選擇射門，成功地取得額外三分，將比分擴至15-0，而比賽剩餘15分鐘。

中國香港嘗試向日本施壓，客隊被迫退守其達陣線。當港隊的霍山文接球後，旋即奮力帶球衝過達陣線，為港隊贏得今次比賽的首個入球；加上Zoe Smith踢入附加入球，將比數改寫為15-7，距離賽事完結尚餘13分鐘。

日本快速重整旗鼓，換上剛剛從新西蘭the Blues度過一個賽季的永田虹歩（Nijiho Nagata）即成功達陣，大塚朱紗（Ayasa Otsuka）命中附加入球，將比分重新擴展至至22-7 。

其後，日本再憑出色的界外爭邊球，將球迅速傳移至中場，由中鋒畑田桜子（Sakurako Hatada）切入達陣，以29-7擴大領先優勢。

縱然對賽事早階段一些未夠力量的達陣感到遺憾，但比賽還沒結束，港隊仍在奮力反擊。

下半場40分鐘，她們圍攻日本22米線，莊嘉欣攻入是次賽事的第二個達陣，最終比分29-12。

日本隊隊長在賽後表示，很高興能夠取得勝利，與港隊的對賽艱難。她們將重整旗鼓，準備5月27日對陣哈薩克的第二場比賽。

港隊教練陳朗詩指隊伍期待與哈薩克比賽，她補充：「相信賽事會很困難，因為她們（哈薩克）自去年起已開始備戰今次賽事——她們經驗豐富，陣中亦具有威脅性的球員，我們需要好好作準備；但從今天的表現，我們獲益良多。球隊表現不俗，界別爭邊球的處理亦佳，但我們需要加強身體質素。」

資料及相片來源 : Hong Kong China Rugby

The Asia Rugby Women’s Championship got underway tonight at King’s Park Sports Ground, as hosts Hong Kong China tested Japan all the way in a hard fought contest that eventually ended 29-12 to the visitors.

The ARWC 2024 also features Kazakhstan in a round-robin format, with the remaining two matches taking place next week. The championship winner will qualify directly for the Rugby World Cup 2025 and earn the right to play in WXV2. The runner-up will play in WXV3, which has a further qualification pathway to next summer’s tournament in England.

Remaining Matches

- Mon 27 May, 19:00. Japan Women's XV vs Kazakhstan – King’s Park Sports GroundFree Entry

- Sat 1 Jun, 18:30. Hong Kong China Women's XV vs Kazakhstan – Hong Kong Football Club Note match is a doubleheader with Hong Kong China Men's XV vs UAE (KO 15:30)Buy Tickets

Full Match Report

The opening round of the ARWC 2024 saw Hong Kong China win the toss on an overcast late afternoon at Kings Park Sports Ground as they looked to add only a second win over Japan in their test match history. Although they didn't get the final result, Hong Kong China pushed a very strong Japanese side for the full 80 minutes and should be full of confidence preparing for their second match against Kazakhstan.

The 29-12 scoreline might even be slightly flattering for the visitors but they were deserved winners. Hong Kong China Head Coach Royce Chan said after the game, “We fought really hard for all 80 minutes, so I am super proud of the girls as it was a massive effort.”

First Half Defensive Heroics

Both team captains, Hong Kong China’s Pun Wai Yan and Japan Sakura XVs Iroha Nagata were playing in the #7 shirts so the pregame coin toss niceties were not going to be the last time their decisions would determine the outcome of the pivotal game.

Nagata was playing her 28th international and had led the Japanese in the ARWC in 2023 and into the WXV.

Hong Kong China kicked off with only four starters who were in the side the last time the women played an international in the ARWC nearly 12 months ago against Kazakhstan.

HKC flyhalf Fung Hoi Ching and Japanese flyhalf Ayasa Otsuka were exchanging downfield kicks but it was the Sakura XV who gained the better distance and the Japanese lineout would be a feature of the half (having three in the first 5 minutes) and placed Hong Kong China under pressure. Clearing the lines was also challenging and the Japanese relied on the territorial advantage to continue adding pressure.

The discipline was also a concern in the first half as the Japanese won several penalties from their ball retention and pressure and the first scrum (the Japanese had a slightly heavier pack) saw parity at the start, but gained momentum for the visitors as the half went on.

After seven minutes, the Japanese looked to have knocked the ball over the try line but the TMO reviewed and decided the grounding was good, although marginal, but the try was awarded to Japanese wing Mele Yua Kagawa with the flyhalf converting to take a 7-0 lead.

Japan were using their set piece and a superior kicking game to keep Hong Kong China pinned in their half with some attempted cross field kicks nearly getting them over the try line twice as they tried to stretch HKC out wide.

Defensively, Hong Kong China women were not shying away from their duties and the veteran centre, who often is the defensive leader, Natasha Olson-Thorne was immense and won a couple of turnovers while shutting down the outside backs of Japan.

The Japanese were still on the front foot, and after a slight mistake to put the ball into touch by HKC, Japan worked a smart short lineout move to run down the touchline and the Japanese captain went over to extend the lead with the conversion to 12-0.

Hong Kong China were not without good chances. Zoe Smith was a constant pain in the Japanese side on the left hand side, but elsewhere, one off runners were finding it tough to punch holes in the organised Japanese defence. Shanna Forrest was a constant battering ram in the half and throughout the match and eventually got the go forward needed.

After the 40th minute, Japan were held up over the line but had the penalty advantage and the ensuing quick take resulted in Olson-Thorne seeing a yellow card, however there were no more scores in the half.

Hong Kong China Threat in the Second Half

Royce said of the half time message, “The girls took the message really well and we knew that if we could keep the ball we would have our opportunities.”

The talk worked, as the second half was a completely different story for large parts as Hong Kong China, despite being a player down, started the much better of the two sides and for the opening ten minutes had Japan on the backfoot.

Rivers’ strong carries were causing the Sakura XV issues and the home side played some of their best rugby and had the most ball retention for the game while not conceding a point and while down to 14 players.

The side was soon back to a full complement of fifteen, and had also reversed the penalty count, with the Japanese repeatedly pinged by the referee.

Good phase play, better ball handling and increased confidence from the Hong Kong China side placed the favourites under immense pressure. The lineouts were functioning well for the most part, with Roshini Turner and Pun Wai Yan the targets. The side as a whole made life uncomfortable for Japan who struggled to exit their half but still denied HKC any points.

Twice, Hong Kong China opted for the posts after repeat infringements but both kicks were just wide and short, while Head Coach Royce Chan watched on with a poker face from the sidelines chewing through a pack of gum, but must have been brimming with pride internally with the second half performance.

With penalties being won by both sides, Japan (with a rare excursion into the HKC half in the second period) opted for the posts themselves and managed to knock over the extra three points to extend it to more than a two-try score game (15-0) with 15 minutes to go.

Hong Kong China were not folding through, and from the kick off again placed Japan under pressure as they were forced to defend their try line, but one of the best players on the field, Forrest, picked it up to drive over for the first Hong Kong China score which was converted by Smith - 15-7 with 13 minutes to go.

Japan then forced HKC on the back foot from the restart and Sakura XV front row replacement Nijiho Nagata, who has just finished a season with the Blues in New Zealand, added Japan’s third try, converted again by Ayasa Otsuka to make it 22-7.

The game had opened up but it was still fierce and physical. From the restart again, HKC forced Japan back and changes were rung on both sides to clear the substitute benches.

Japan had an excellent lineout move to close out the result, as the ball moved to the midfield quickly and Japanese centre #13 Sakurako Hatada cut through to secure a bonus point win and a 29-7 scoreline with just minutes remaining.

Hong Kong China had made Japan play for every inch and would rue some soft early tries but the match was not over. They continued their spirited performance in the second forty minutes and again sieged the Japanese 22m and try line before Chong Ka Ya added a second try with a final score of 29-12.

Japan's captain said after the game they were happy to execute the win but it was tough against the Hong Kong China team and they will need to regroup for the second match against a physical Kazakhstan team on Monday 27 May.

For Hong Kong China, the work put in to prepare was important and Royce Chan added that they are excited for the upcoming game against Kazakhstan. “It will be tough to play them as they have prepared since last year - they have experienced and threatening players and we will need to be prepared for that but there are lots of positives to take from today. We were good and the lineout worked well, but we need to work on the physicality.”

For the Hong Kong China women, as proud as they should be of the performance, they know this is not a one-match tournament and they will need to build from here and go into their final match with Kazakhstan on Saturday 1 June brimming with confidence.

Information source : Hong Kong China Rugby