The women's rugby sevens tournament, one of the Hong Kong-hosted events for the 15th National Games, entered its second day of group stage matches on Nov. 13 at the Kai Tak Sports Park Main Stadium. In their third pool match, the Hong Kong team faced Shanghai, securing a 27-14 victory in the game that began at 1 pm.
Before the match, reporters from DotDotNews observed numerous fans arriving at the stadium with flags and banners to cheer for the Hong Kong team. Many visitors experiencing the Kai Tak Sports Park for the first time expressed great anticipation for the exciting competition, praising the venue's comprehensive facilities and the electric atmosphere.
The match started intensely, with Shanghai's #13 player Dai Jing scoring a try just two minutes into the first half. #5 Gu Yaoyao successfully converted the kick, giving Shanghai an early 7-point lead. Hong Kong quickly responded as #7 Chong Ka-yan broke through the defense to score a try, adding 5 points. The first half concluded with Hong Kong trailing 5-7.
After the break, the game intensified. Hong Kong gained momentum with #4 Julia Mibuy scoring a try, pushing her team ahead 10-7. Shanghai countered with a try from #7 Weng Bijia, leveling the score. In the final three minutes, Hong Kong's #7 Chong Ka-yan and #2 Chloe Chan scored consecutive tries, extending the lead to 20-14. The match concluded with Hong Kong winning 27-14.
In a post-match interview, Hong Kong player Chloe Chan shared that the team had analyzed their slower first-half performances from the previous day's two matches. They adjusted their offensive speed and tactics for today's game, specifically deploying faster players for tries. She expressed strong team confidence and their aim to reach the semi-finals.
Teammate Julia Mibuy noted that the entire squad was united in their goal to win this pool match, and she felt relieved to have achieved it. Reflecting on her try, she said, After scoring and seeing the entire crowd stand up to cheer for us, I truly felt the power of playing on home ground. I believe this match was also incredibly meaningful for the fans watching.
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