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Hong Kong will join Canada in RWC 2019 repechage. The Asia 1 RWC qualifiers proved to be superior opposition for the Cook Islands in their two-match repechage play-off series.
Having won the opening fixture 26-3 in Rarotonga last weekend Hong Kong completed a 51-0 win today at home to become the second of four teams in repechage. Combined it means Hong Kong tops the Cook Islands by 77-3 on aggregate.
Hong Kong’s dominant performance started early-on. 10 minutes into the match they had their opening try. Crossing in the corner was right winger Yiu Kam Shing. The conversion was on target and 21 minutes into the match Matthew Rosslee added three further points, via a penalty.
The Cook Islands discipline was complicating their cause. 23 minutes into the match saw fullback Marnus Hanley yellow carded. It harmed the visitors greatly as Max Woodward would score two minutes later to give Hong Kong a 17-0 lead.
In the 31st minute the teams were both down to 14-men. Yellow carded was Hong Kong replacement Jamie Hood.
Further points would not come until the second half. Scoring in the 47th minute for Hong Kong was Rosslee. His second penalty made it a 20-0 scoreline. Five minutes later he would land another strike, this time following a try from Hood. Hong Kong’s 27-0 lead saw the wind dropping out of the sails for the Cook Islands.
Further tries followed with replacement hooker Alex Post scoring a double, and Hong Kong also being awarded a penalty try all coming for the hosts. Ben Rimene also slotted an opportunistic drop goal. The Cook Islands were down to 13 players in the final minutes. In total they received four yellow cards in the match.
The result confirms Hong Kong as one of four countries to compete in the World Rugby global repechage tournament. Taking place in France in November, Hong Hong join Canada and two further teams will be added. Germany is highly likely to be one of them with either Kenya or Namibia expected to be the final competitor.
The winner of the global repechage tournament will qualify for RWC 2019 as the Repechage Winner. This team will compete in Pool B in Japan. This country will be the 20th, and final, participant for the World Cup and will compete in Pool B. The group has the pre-qualified countries of Italy, New Zealand, and South Africa. Africa 1 will also compete in the group.
SCORING
HONG KONG (51)
Try: Kam Shing, Woodward, Hood, Post (2), Penalty Try
Conversion: Rosslee (5)
Penalty: Rosslee (2)
Drop-goal: Rimene
Yellow Card: Hood
COOK ISLANDS (0)
Yellow Card: Hanley, Viiga, Smith Wano, Mullany
HONG KONG
1 Adam Fullgrabe, 2 Ben Roberts, 3 Dylan Rogers, 4 James Cunningham (capt.), 5 Jack Delaforce, 6 Nick Hewson, 7 Toby Fenn, 8 Thomas Lamboley, 9 Cado Lee Ka-to, 10 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Max Denmark, 12 Lex Kaleca, 13 Max Woodward, 14 Salom Yiu Kam-shing, 15 Jack Neville
Replacements: 16 Alex Post, 17 Dan Barlow, 18 Jack Parfitt, 19 Mick Parfitt, 20 Kane Boucaut, 21 Jamie Lauder, 22 Ben Rimene, 23 Jamie Hood
COOK ISLANDS
1 AJ Campbell, 2 Sam Anderson Heather (capt.), 3 James Pakoti, 4 James Kora, 5 Shahn Eru, 6 Robert Heather, 7 Eru Wano, 8 Tyrone Viiga, 9 Walter Koteka, 10 Reece Joyce, 11 Jamian Iroa, 12 Gene Te Amo, 13 Christian Vainerere, 14 Brynn Uriarau, 15 Marnus Hanley
Replacements: 16. Mat Mullany, 17 Tui Paitai, 18 Tama Nicholas, 19 Oneal Rongo, 20 Tokerau Raru, 21 Josh Tinomana, 22 Te Ara Henderson, 23 Matamanea Matapakia
