Japan are Asian 7s Champions

China and Japan went into the final tournament in the Women’s Asian Sevens Series with one win each – Japan beating China in Hong Kong, and China gaining revenge in Korea. Neither had been seriously troubled by other teams in the series, so another competition climaxing with Sino-Japanese final was expected.

It very nearly didn’t happen.

The opening two rounds of pool games on Day One largely followed the accepted script. Japan dismissed South Korea and India (who replaced Uzbekistan for the final tournament) 36-0 and 43-0, while China were almost equally dismissive of Singapore and Sri Lanka (43-0 and 27-0). Hong Kong – third in both the opening tournaments – were nearly tripped up in their opening game against the hosts (after conceding an early try and finding it hard to break down the Sri Lankan defence until very late in the game, just scraping in 17-12) but there was no suggestion about what was to follow in round three.

First Japan took on Thailand. The Japanese had racked up 72 unanswered points against the Thais in their previous two meetings in Korea and Hong Kong, so some self-confidence was to be expected.

Perhaps Japan took the relaxation too far. A very poor opening coupled with some brilliant play by the Thais who suddenly realised that a piece of history was to be had, meant that Japan went into the break 17-0 down (the Thais, having been presented with a penalty right in front of the posts after the hooter, took the three points). Japan battled back to within five points, but the incredible speed of Naritsara Worakitsirikun of Thailand from the restart pulled Thailand further ahead (24-12) which was enough, despite Japan getting one try back.

Next up was Hong Kong against China. China had had the better of their meetings this year, but Hong Kong had gone close and (despite knowing that a loss would give them a theoretically easier semi-finals) Hong Kong were took on their great rivals – and beat them. It was a close game, and early Hong Kong try for Olson-Thorne being cancelled out by a converted try by Wanyu Wang for China. China held that 7-5 lead until deep into the second half when Hong Kong scored two tries in a minute to race to a 15-7 lead which was enough to hold out, despite China pulling a score back after the hooter.

So the two shock results in the opening day effectively cancelled each other out, giving the same semi-finals as had been expected from the start (just in a different order).

On Day Two normal order was restored with China and Japan seeing off Thailand and Hong Kong 29-0 and 14-0 respectively, thus setting up another China/Japan final – in which Japan raced to a 17-0 lead, despite being a player down through a yellow card in the first half. With just over five minutes to go China did pull a try back, but only one winner ever seemed likely. And so Japan took the tournament – and the title.

Thailand finished third, beating Hong Kong 19-5 – but Hong Kong finished third in the series. Singapore were again fifth, and Sri Lanka sixth – a result that means the Sri Lankans will be a core team next year. South Korea dismissed India 32-0 to finish seventh, but ended eighth overall behind Guam.

Pool C:China 43-0 Singapore; Hong Kong 17-12 Sri Lanka; China 27-0 Sri Lanka; Hong Kong 26-0 Singapore; China 12-19 Hong Kong; Singapore 5-15 Sri Lanka

Pool D:Japan 36-0 South Korea;  Thailand 31-0 India;  Japan 43-0 India;  Thailand 19-0 South Korea;  South Korea 38-0 India;  Japan 19-24 Thailand

Cup Semi Finals: Sri Lanka 32-0 India; Singapore 12-7 South Korea

Plate Semi Finals: Hong Kong 0-14 Japan; China 29-0 Thailand

7thplace: India 5-31 South Korea

Plate Final: Sri Lanka 7-12 Singapore

Third place: Hong Kong 5-19 Thailand

Cup Final: Japan 17-5 China

Overall final series ranking:

1. Japan

2. China

3. Hong Kong

4. Thailand

5. Singapore

6. Sri Lanka

7. Guam

8. South Korea

9. Uzbekistan

10. India