27 July 2010by Wang Shao Ing
Singapore ended their Asian 7s campaign with a thrilling final against Hong Kong in the Plate Final of Asian Women's 7s Championships 2010 in Guangzhou over the weekend.
With 13 countries in the running, Singapore was grouped in the pool with eventual runners-up Kazakhstan and second-time participants India, the team needed a second place finish in the pool to make the top eight teams and the first division of the championships.
Singapore started brightly against Kazakhstan and were denied the first points on the board when Tan Hui Juan crossed the line for the republic. However, the physicality and experience of the Kazakhs, who are the sole Asian representatives at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 in London in August, were never in doubt and Kazakhstan sealed the first place in the group with another win against India.
Singapore's second pool game was a game against Thailand and the Republic was the first to put the points on the board as the Thais were pressured by Singapore's defence but Thailand bounced back with a win to put themselves in the running for the Cup Semi-Finals. Singapore recovered well with a convincing win against India to qualify for the Plate semifinals the next day.
The Plate Semifinals was no walkover as Chinese Taipei put up a spirited fight but Singapore's composure put them through to the plate final against old-time rivals Hong Kong.
It had been over two years since the last two countries met in a 7s series and the final proved to be a real nail-biter. Hong Kong were quick to release their lethal winger out wide and scored two tries in quick succession but Singapore would not let up and equalised in the second half. Momentum was swinging the republic's way and with a scrum in the middle of Hong Kong's 22m put Singapore in good attacking position. However the Hong Kongers held on eventually took the game with two more quick tries.
Singapore's final placing in the Asian Women's 7s Championships will put it in good stead in its appeal to the Singapore National Olympic Council to sanction the team for the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Web Albums: Asian Womens 7s Championships 2010
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