Japan favorites to take Gold at AYG

Photo courtesy of www.nanjing2013.org
18 August 2013

Thailand put their two losses yesterday behind them to edge Hong Kong out in the first game of day two. Speedy Thai winger Wandee Thanachporn turned on the gas to put Thailand up within a minute of the kickoff. Thanachporn added to her first minute effort just before the half to put Thailand in the lead 12-0, even if the Nanjing heat was beginning to get to her team.

It looked like it was all going Thailand's way early after the break when scrumhalf Nanthaka Kunnika ran the blindside for a 60m breakaway try but the islanders rallied to come back with two tries by Rachel Fong and Victoria Robertson. Hong Kong will rue the handling errors which cost them plenty of possession and eventually the game which was won by Thailand 17-10.

Japan rarely missed a step in their 38-0 victory over Kazakhstan. Fukushima Wasana adding to her haul from day one with a try and three conversions. Ugawa Shiho and Niihara Hibiki crossed the line twice each with Oyokawa Yuki including herself to the try scorers list. Their crisp handling and nifty footwork kept the patient Japanese side on course to top the table.



China's took their first match of the day against Hong Kong but not without some resistance from an improved Hong Kong side. Wang Ting Ting put her side ahead early in the game but some stern defence from Hong KOng kept the score at 5-0 until Courtney Jade Cox crossed the line for Hong Kong to put her team 7-5 in front at the half. Hong Kong enjoyed the lions share of the possession in the second half but Liu Xiao Qian's two tries put the game beyond Hong Kong who lost 21-5 at the final whistle.

Thailand were the first to get points on the board in their game against Kazakhstan and the reluctance by either side to move the ball kept the game on the ground for most of the first half which ended at 7-5 to Kazakhstan. Thailand found their burners after the break with tries from Tanachporn, Rukrueang Nitchara and Yakam Phakkhanarin who crossed the line at full time to secure Thailand's place in the knockout stages. 

Having lost all their games so far, the game between Kazakhstan and Hong Kong would determine the team that would qualify for the play offs on the final day. Hong Kong stepped up their game and found holes all over the Kazakhstan defence. Tries by Cox, Grace Lousie Mann, Eleanor Ngan Kee and Robertson ensured it was going to be a tough for Kazakhstan to make a comeback in the second half. Overton Elsie Kristy added just another try in a more evenly matched second half to relegate Kazakhstan from medal contention.

The final match of the day between Japan and China would decide who finished first in the pool. China's rush defence frustrated the Japanese attack which only managed a converted try in the first half by Japan's Yamamoto Minori. However once the Japanese has figured their way around the high pressure defence pattern, Bativakalolo Raicheierumiyo, Minori and Shiho each broke away with Wasana adding the conversions to bring the final score and a clean sheet to Japan 26-0, sealing their status as favorites to take the Gold tomorrow.

Day 2 Scores and Pool Standings

Hong Kong v Thailand
Japan v Kazakhstan
China v Hong Kong 21-5
Kazakhstan v Thailand 7-26
Kazakhstan v Hong Kong 0-31
China v Japan 0-26

Pool Standings
1 Japan
2 China
3 Thailand
4 Hong Kong
5 Kazakhstan

Day 3

Semifinals
1500 Japan v Hong Kong
1520 China v Thailand
1840 Bronze Medal Match
1920 Gold & Silver Medal Match



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