Top Seeds Proceed to Asian 4 Nations Finals

Kazakhstan v Japan at the 2009 Asian WC
Qualifiers. Photo by Shiochi Midoro 

6 July 2012
Wang Shao Ing

There were no upsets in Kunshan on the first day of the Asian Women's 4 Nations Division I as first and second seeded Kazakhstan and Japan booked their places in Saturday's final.

In the first of the playoffs, Hong Kong drew first blood with a try by Natasha Olson Thorne and the score remained at 5-0 to Hong Kong at the half. However, the Japanese were not to be denied for long as Ayaka Suzuki equalized for her country within minutes of the second half.

For the next twenty minutes, both sides exchanged blows, with Candy Cheng and Ka Man Nam putting tries on the board for Hong Kong and Marie Yamaguchi and Mateitoga Bogidraumaindave crossing the line to bring the score to 19-17 to Japan at stroke of the hour. But it was all Japan thereafter, as blind wing Yamaguchi struck again with Angela Elting and scrum half Chilsami Inoue adding to the spoils. With three minutes left on the clock, Bogidraumaindave closed out the game for Japan 41-17 with her second try of the day.


It was a far different affair in the other match up as Kazakhstan sailed through to the finals with nine unanswered tries against China from almost every member of the Kazakhstan backline save for one try from No.8, Anastassiya Khamovage. China may have been able to dominate the developing nations in last year's development 15s tournament with their superior size and speed but Asia's sole entrant to the last three Women's Rugby World Cup showed the Asian Games 7s silver medalists just how the full code is played in the 51-0 win.

Kazakhstan dominated the scrums and kept the Chinese defence occupied with the hard hitting runners off the breakdowns. Flyhalf Sveteana Nikova showed several deft touches with her boot exploiting the holes left by China's back three and although China made a few forays into the Kazakhstan half, they never really threatened the central Asians' line.

The 3rd/4th playoff between Hong Kong and China on Saturday will be telling of whether ARFU's decision to include China in Div 1 based on their showing at last year's development tournament was premature for a country that has no domestic fifteens league or structures. Kazakhstan exposed the Chinese's lack of experience and understanding of the tactical nous in the full format of rugby union.

Hong Kong will play China at 6pm and the finals between Kazakhstan and Japan will be at 8pm on Saturday.