Match Report - Hong Kong vs Kenya

Thomas Lamboley came off the bench to score twice as Hong Kong overcame a scare from Kenya to claim the bonus-point win that keeps their RWC 2019 qualification hopes alive.

Kenya’s off-the-cuff approach caused Hong Kong problems in the first half and Leigh Jones’ side found themselves 12-0 down after 22 minutes. But a much-improved second-half performance turned the tide and they now go into Friday’s finale against Canada with something to play for.

Hong Kong got off to a fast start, forcing Kenya into giving away three penalties inside the first six minutes while under pressure in their own 22, but a lack of precision – and the strength of the Kenyans in contact, notably number eight Josh Chisanga – prevented them capitalising on good field position.

Instead, it was Kenya who got the first score, scrum-half Felix Ayange breaking away from an advancing rolling maul inside the Hong Kong 22 before finding Tony Onyango on his shoulder with an inside pass.

Onyango’s second try in as many matches was quickly followed by a brilliant effort that saw flanker Elkeans Musonye round off a fine move involving great footwork and precision passing from midfield duo, Leo Owade and Collins Injera.

With close to three-quarters territory and Kenya's capacity for turning the ball over, it seemed inevitable that Hong Kong would find a route back into the match, and it came when Nelson Oyoo made a complete hash of a speculative kick through from Ben Rimene. Like any good winger, Max Denmark was up quickly to gather the loose ball and cross for the easiest of tries which Rimene converted. Toby Fenn was then held up over the line as half-time approached.

Hong Kong put an untidy start to the second behind them to seize control of the match with two tries in the space of five minutes. Their most-capped player Nick Hewson plunged over virtually unopposed direct from a lineout before back-row colleague Fenn got the try his tireless work deserved.

With Rimene converting all three tries, Hong Kong had rattled off a run of 21 unanswered points but Onyango high-stepped his way through a tackle to score on 57 minutes and remind them that the job wasn’t done.

Lamboley, a first-half replacement, helped lift the tempo and in the 64th minute he got Hong Kong the all-important bonus point when he finished off a sweet handling move in the corner. The second came from a more direct route, the forward riding Injera’s challenge before just reaching out, at full stretch, to dot the ball down on the line.

By this stage, Matt Rosslee had come on for Rimene but without any adverse effect on the goal-kicking, the replacement fly-half slotting the ball through the posts before adding a superb touchline conversion to Lewis Warner’s late score.

Hong Kong captain James Cunningham: “It was a bit scary at the start. The Kenyans came out real fast and played some great rugby, but we did what we wanted to, we knew we had the fitness, so we just ground it out and finally got some points on the board towards the end of the game. Having the bonus point still keeps us in this tournament, so it was definitely on our minds, but just getting the win is big for us.”

Kenya captain Wilson Kopondo: “I’m very proud of the team. We gave it a good go and we’ll be back better for this. We need to work on closing out games going forward, we were in it for a long time but made a couple of bad calls and let it slip.”  

via World Rugby