[May 5, 2012, HONG KONG]: South Korea marked its return to the elite Top 5 competition of the HSBC Asian 5 Nations in sensational style with a late try to edge Hong Kong 21-19 at Hong Kong Football Club. In today’s other match the Japanese juggernaut rolled over UAE 106-3 in Fukuoka.
A last-gasp try from outstanding Korean centre Park Noh-woon saw South Korea clinch a narrow 21-19 victory over Hong Kong in the HSBC Asian Five Nations Top Five competition on Saturday at the Hong Kong Football Club.
Park broke Hong Kong hearts when he sliced his way through with three minutes remaining to score the match-winning try over last year’s runners-up who had high hopes of challenging champions Japan for the Asian crown this season.
“We’re very, very happy and all credit goes to the players,” said delighted South Korean head coach Seo Chun-Oh after the three-tries to one victory heralded the return of his team to the top flight in Asia. Today’s win also marked a successful debut for Seo as head coach of Korea.
Winger Cho In Soo slips away from Hong Kong's Rory Hussey.
Korea, who was relegated in 2010 from the Top Five, looked determined from the outset to regain their lost No.2 slot in Asia.
They looked the more composed side in the first half taking a crucial 14-6 lead through tries from inside centre Kim Nam-wook and winger Cho In-soo, both converted by flyhalf Oh Youn-hyung.
Hong Kong’s only answer in the first 40 minutes was two penalties from new cap and flyhalf Mike Glancy.
Hong Kong looked out-of-sorts in the opening minutes failing to make use of plenty of possession won at the set-pieces as they failed to get numbers to the breakdown. This allowed Korea to dominate the loose and from broken play they were the more dangerous team.
“We always knew they would have a big 30-35 minutes. We didn’t probably settle as early as we would have liked. International rugby is all about taking those few chances you get. We didn’t do that,” said disappointed Hong Kong senior coach Leigh Jones.
But the home side looked a different proposition in the second period with changes from the bench making a telling contribution, especially replacement fullback Ross Armour adding bite to the attack.
Hong Kong pinned the South Koreans back and edged ahead 16-14 after a try by hooker Tom Bolland that was converted by substitute fly-half Jamie Hood who also knocked over a penalty.
In a nervy closing stage, Salom Yiu Kam-shing dropped the ball just metres from the line as Hong Kong looked to extend their lead before Hood scored his second penalty to give the home side breathing space with a five-point cushion.
But it was not enough as South Korea, promoted last year after a season out of the top division, broke out and touched down for the crucial try to get their campaign off to a flying start.
Korea’s Lee Kwang Moon on the burst.
“We knew physically South Korea would cause problems. All credit to them, they deserved their win,” said Jones, adding that a lack of team cohesion and missed chances cost his side dearly.
“If you don’t covert pressure into points, you can get a kick up the backside,” he said.
Japan steamrolled UAE in Fukuoka today 106-3, narrowly missing out on their HSBC A5N Top 5 record points total of 116, set against the former Arabian Gulf in 2008 in Osaka. Full match report to follow.
Today’s results leave Japan firmly at the top of the table with two wins from two matches. Japan has maintained their perfect A5N record with 17 wins and 17 bonus points from 17 matches. Japan top the HSBC A5N 2012 Top 5 table with 12 points. Hong Kong, who earned a bonus point from today’s loss within seven points, narrowly holds onto second place with seven points, followed by Korea on five points. UAE and Kazakhstan have yet to record a point on this year’s table.
Rights-free photos FROM HONG KONG v KOREA are available from:
url: http://tinyurl.com/HKRFUMedia; password: hkrfumedia
2012 HSBC Asian 5 Nations Top 5 Week 2 Match Stats: Hong Kong v Korea
Half- time score: 6 - 14 Full- time score: 19 - 21
| Jersey | Name | Event | Score |
| First Half | |||
| 10 | GLANCY, Mike (HKG) | Penalty | 3 - 0 |
| 12 | KIM, Nam Wook (KOR) | Try | 3 – 5 |
| 10 | OH, Youn Hyung (KOR) | Conversion | 3 – 7 |
| 10 | GLANCY, Mike (HKG) | Penalty | 6 – 7 |
| 12 | KIM, Nam Wook (KOR) | Try | 6 – 12 |
| 10 | OH, Youn Hyung (KOR) | Conversion | 6 - 14 |
| Second Half | |||
| 21 | HOOD, Jamie (HKG) | Penalty | 9 – 14 |
| 2 | BOLLAND, Tom (HKG) | Try | 14 – 14 |
| 21 | HOOD, Jamie (HKG) | Conversion | 16 – 14 |
| 21 | HOOD, Jamie (HKG) | Penalty | 19 – 14 |
| 13 | PARK, Noh Hoon (KOR) | Try | 19 – 19 |
| 15 | KIM, Won Yong (KOR) | Conversion | 19 – 21 |
Scoring Leaders
| Name | Country | Try | Conversion | Penalty | DG | Total |
| KIM, Nam Wook | Korea | 2 |
|
|
| 10 |
| HOOD, Jamie | HKG |
| 1 | 2 |
| 8 |
| GLANCY, Mike | HKG |
|
| 2 |
| 6 |
| BOLLAND, Tom | HKG | 1 |
|
|
| 5 |
| PARK, Noh Hoon | Korea | 1 |
|
|
| 5 |
| OH, Youn Hyung | Korea |
| 2 |
|
| 4 |
| KIM, Won Yong | Korea |
| 1 |
|
| 2 |
ENDS
For more information on the HSBC Asian 5 Nations please visit www.asian5nations.com or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HSBC.A5N. Matches will be live scored by Twitter @asian5nations.
About HSBC and Rugby
HSBC is a long-term investor in Rugby in Asia and around the world. As well as being the title sponsor of the Sevens World Series, Asian 5 Nations and Asian Sevens Series, the bank is co-title sponsor of the Hong Kong Sevens from 2012. HSBC is the Principal Partner of all the Hong Kong rugby teams, and the British & Irish Lions, who will play in Hong Kong in 2013 en route to Australia. The bank is also the title sponsor of the Waratahs Super 15 team in Australia, the Penguin International Coaching Academy and the Cobra 10s tournament in Malaysia.
About the Asian Rugby Football Union
ARFU was founded in 1968 with eight member unions. In the past decade its membership has trebled to 28 full and associate member unions ranging from Kazakhstan in the north to Indonesia in the south and Lebanon in the west to Guam in the east. ARFU covers a territory of over 44 sq million kilometres and more than 3 billion people. ARFU is the sanctioning body for the HSBC Asian 5 Nations, which every four years acts as the qualifying event for the Rugby World Cup, and the HSBC Asian Sevens Series, which was held for the first time in 2011. ARFU also offers organized international competition for women and youth across Asia.
ENDS
For enquiries or to arrange interviews with members of the participating teams, HSBC or ARFU officials please contact Sean Moore, Tournament Operations Mangaer of the HSBC Asian 5 Nations, on sean.moore@elitestep.com or +852 9095 8889.
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