Hong Kong savour ‘beautiful’ historic National Games rugby sevens gold
City’s men’s team survive second-half scare to clinch victory over Shandong at Kai Tak Stadium, after women beat Shanghai for fifth
Max Denmark savoured a “beautiful” historic night after Hong Kong beat Shandong 26-19 in a rip-roaring National Games rugby sevens final at Kai Tak Stadium.
The city team were given a mighty scare when Shandong recovered from 12-0 down to lead 14-12 with only four minutes remaining.
When Hong Kong needed a hero, Julien Bourron answered the call. With barely two minutes to play, Bourron barrelled through fierce resistance to score under the posts, before gathering himself to kick the conversion.
Cado Lee Ka-to pounced on some clumsy Shandong play to put Hong Kong out of sight, and reduce Liu Luda’s late reply to a mere consolation.
“[After Shandong went in front] I was just thinking, ‘I believe in this team,’” Denmark said.
“I made a couple of individual mistakes out there, but I knew it didn’t matter. We all have each other’s backs, regardless of how we play.”