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The Prince of Tennis 3rd Season Seigaku vs Fudomine – 7-8 March, 2015

2015 is the year for major musical productions adapted from original manga, which includes Takeshi Konomi’s Prince of Tennis. The musical adaptation, titled Tennimu, enters its third season this year and the musical centers on “Seigaku vs. Fudomine” story arc in the manga with tours of Taiwan and Hong Kong after a series of well received preview shows in Japan.

The Prince of Tennis musicals – also known as “TeniPuri Musical,” “Tenimyu,” or “GekiPuri” (Stage Prince) – are a series of live action stage musicals directed by Yukio Ueshima based on manga series The Prince of Tennis created by Takeshi Konomi and serialized by Shueisha in Weekly Shonen Jump. The musical premièred in 2003 and the first season featured 22 musicals and ran for seven years until May 2010. The second season finished in 2014 and Seigaku vs. Fudomine is the first musical of the third season. There’s a video digest of the first two seasons here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtn8wtiJt9M#t=98

The Prince of Tennis uses the theme of scholastic tennis and centers on talented tennis prodigy Ryoma Echizen as he attends Seishun Academy. Echizen makes friends and rivals, but ultimately contemplates what the sport of tennis really means to him.

The Prince of Tennis 3rd Season Seigaku vs Fudomine
When:
7 March 2015 (Sat) at 1pm & 6pm
8 March 2015 (Sun) at 1pm & 6pm
Where: Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Tickets: $500, $400, $200 from HKTicketing

Asian Games: Rugby 7s – Japan edge Hong Kong for Gold

Japan won the men’s gold medal at the Asian Games rugby sevens competition defeating arch-rivals Hong Kong 24-12 in a gripping final on Thursday.

It was the second successive time the two rivals had met in the Asian Games final and the result was the same with Japan running out victors although Hong Kong pushed them to the limit once again.

“This win means a lot to us. Only one team from Asia will be going to the Rio Olympics, and we have put down a marker,” said Japan’s 15s captain Michael Leitch who was called up for duty to retain the sevens title.

Hong Kong entered the Asian Games having won both opening legs at the ARFU Asian Sevens Series but couldn’t quite find the winning formula against a Japanese outfit beefed up with Top League players including Leitch who scored one of the four tries for Japan in the final.

Hong Kong veteran Rowan Varty had given first blood to his team when he cut through the defence to score the first try of the match after both teams had spent the first five minutes going hammer and tongs at each other.

Japan equalized through Leitch who bulldozed his way over from close range, but he was sin-binned seconds later for a dangerous tackle. Hong Kong failed to take advantage, however, as a superb Japanese defence kept them out.

With the hooter having gone for halftime, Hong Kong opted to keep the ball alive with a quick tap and they paid for it when the ball was turned over and Japan punted it downfield.

In the chase for the ball, Hong Kong winger Tom McQueen was penalized for obstruction and a penalty try was awarded to Japan.

Hong Kong came back after the break when sub Salom Yiu Kam-shing scored soon after coming on but tries from Lomano Lemeki and Kazushi Hano saw Japan finish strongly.

“A silver medal is a great achievement but it is still a disappointment as we had come here to win the gold,” said Hong Kong skipper Jamie Hood.

Hong Kong had to fight hard to enter the final needing to get past South Korea in the semi-finals and winning a closely fought contest 15-7.

Korea led 7-5 at the break with a try from winger Jeong Yeon-sik cancelling out Hong Kong’s opening try of the match, which came in the fifth minute by winger Varty who rounded his opposite number to score.

But with the skies opening up over the impressive Namdong rugby stadium, the orders were clear from Hong Kong coach Gareth Baber – keep play inside the opponent’s 22 – and Hong Kong carried it out perfectly as they encamped inside Korean territory and kept play tight. The pressure paid dividends with tries to Tom McQueen and skipper Jamie Hood.

Japan had it easier in the other semi-final as they breezed to a 40-0 win over Sri Lanka with star player Lomano Lemeki grabbing a hat-trick.

Once winger Kazushi Hano had touched down for the first try, it seemed Sri Lanka had set their minds on the bronze medal match as Japan had it all their own way running in five more tries to book their berth in the final.

South Korea went on to win the bronze medal defeating a spirited Sri Lanka 17-14 in a tense game.

Additional reporting HKRFU, photo: Power Sport Images for HKRFU

IRB Women’s Sevens World Series – Qualified: Fiji, China, France, South Africa

At the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series Qualifiers held in Hong Kong, Fiji, China, France and South Africa qualified for the Sevens Worlds Series with wins in their quarter-finals. China thrashing Brazil 45-7, Fiji strolling past Portugal 29-7, France narrowly edged Japan 21-12 while a pumped South Africa had a surprisingly easy win over the Netherlands 22-7.

Photos: Power Sport Images for HKRFU

Hong Kong 53 Singapore 5 – Women’s Asian 4 Nations: 24 May 2014

Kazakhstan was crowned Asian 15s champions after they trounced Japan 49-17 to remain unbeaten in the four-team Asian Women’s Rugby Championship at Aberdeen Stadium on Saturday.

Hosts Hong Kong, who started the tournament as the fourth seeds, finished runners-up after hammering Singapore 53-5 in their last match. Hong Kong, who had also beaten Japan (15-14) earlier in the tournament, lost to Kazakhstan 13-10 in their decisive clash.

Hat-tricks from flyhalf Rose Fong and winger Natasha Olsen-Thorne propelled the home team to victory as Hong Kong proved far too strong for Singapore dotting down nine tries in a one-sided rout.

“I’m pretty happy and we are getting closer to where we want to be, but as a coach, you always want more from the players,” said Hong Kong coach Chris Garvey. “Today was the closest that we have been to getting where I want this group to be. Credit to the girls, two of whom got hat-tricks and showed a couple of individual moments of brilliance, but the team effort has allowed those individuals to shine,” Garvey said.

Garvey and Hong Kong will look back and reflect on the narrow loss to Kazakhstan in their opener which in the end prevented them from being crowned Asian champions. “Overall I’m very pleased. If we are being honest with ourselves we never thought we would get anything out of the Kazakhstan match and we thought the Japan match would be extremely tough but the girls have surpassed their own expectation.

“We set out to get third place but finished runners-up which is fantastic,” Garvey added. Hong Kong captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi added: “This tournament has given us a lot of confidence and we can see ourselves capable of being Asia No.1 in the future.”

Japan finished third with Singapore propping up the rest.

Hong Kong 15 Japan 14 – Women’s Asian 4 Nations: 21 May 2014

A last-gasp penalty from fly-half Lai Pou Fan helped Hong Kong pull off a thrilling 15-14 victory over Japan in the Asian Women’s 4 Nations at Aberdeen Stadium last night.

Lai, who had earlier missed converting a second-half try from fullback Aggie Poon Pak Yan that would have leveled scores at 14-14, more than made up for that miss as she coolly slotted over the winning penalty with the final kick of the match to give the hosts a scrappy yet welcome victory in the four-team tournament. While top seeds Kazakhstan remained unbeaten after hammering Singapore 68-0 in the first match of the day.

“I thought we played better in our first game against Kazakhstan than we did today, but for long periods of the game we stuck to our game plan and got rewards from that,” said Hong Kong coach Chris Garvey. “I think if we had been a little more patient at times and had a little more trust in our game, then the result may have even been a little less nervy for our management and the fans today. But credit to our girls, in previous games and years, they have crumbled. But today they showed a little more guts and fight, and a whole lot of spirit,” Garvey added.

Hong Kong opened the scoring when inside centre Rose Fong beat her opposite number with a barnstorming run to score in the fifth minute. Lau converted and Hong Kong led 7-0. Japan came back strongly through the impressive No.8 Mami Okada who had scored a hat-trick against Singapore earlier in the tournament. Okada powered her way over for a try from close range from the back of a maul as Japan hit back and went into halftime with the scores level on 7-7.

Japanese centre Ayako Tanaka completed a fine piece of driving play by the pack to score a try and give her team the lead for the first time in the match with winger Ai Tasaka adding her second conversion to make the score 14-7. But Hong Kong, who had lost narrowly to Kazakhstan in their opening match 13-10, never gave up, and it was left to the dangerous Aggie Poon to round off a breathtaking move by the backs after the forwards had punched it up from a lineout to narrow the gap to 14-12. Lau’s last-minute heroics then earned Hong Kong a deserving win.

“Too many mistakes cost us the match,” said disappointed Japan coach Goshi Arimizu. “We played well but made too many mistakes and Hong Kong did better in the second half. Their scrum put us under pressure. We now must look to Kazakhstan and try and finish off well. They beat us last time we played, so this time we play to avenge that loss,” Arimizu added.

The final set of games in the Women’s Asian 4 Nations is on 24 May when Hong Kong take on Singapore (k/o 15:00) and Kazakhstan play Japan (k/o 17:00) at Aberdeen Stadium.

Asian Women’s Four Nations
Where: Aberdeen Stadium, Hong Kong
How Much: Free
More info: www.hkrfu.com

Asian Women’s Four Nations Championship: 18-24 May, 2014

Hong Kong aiming high at the Asian Women’s Four Nations Championship 2014 which takes place at Aberdeen Stadium from the 18-24 May. “As hosts, Hong Kong need a top three finish to secure its future of playing against the best in the region and further developing its own game” said head coach Chris Garvey.

The four-team round-robin tournament is the region’s premier women’s 15s competition and features Asia’s number one women’s fifteens side Kazakhstan and second and third seeds Japan and Singapore, it will provide a formidable challenge for the Hong Kong squad. “The more times we pit ourselves against the best in Asia the better for our own game,” said Garvey who continued “While our premier women’s league is good, there is no substitute for playing against the best. To achieve this target, we will have to make sure we finish in the top three in the Asian Four Nations,”

“These are the same opponents we faced in the World Cup qualifiers last year. We fielded an inexperienced team then as none of our sevens squad was involved as they were preparing for the Hong Kong Women’s Sevens. We lost to Singapore on that occasion and we will be hoping to make amends this time. That game will be our final, but we also hope to surprise a few people when we take on Kazakhstan and Japan,” Garvey said.

Gai Wu flanker Christy Cheng Ka-chi will lead a squad which has a settled look about it with more than half of them being part of the first generation of fully professional players who are enrolled at the HKSI in the Rugby Sevens programme. Police prop Clara Cheng Cheuk-yui and Gai Wu second-rower Stephanie Ching Tsz-yung look set to make their Hong Kong debuts during the competition.

Garvey, a PE teacher at Kellett School, paid tribute to the squad, most of them part-timers who devoted themselves to a strenuous build-up. “We had an extended squad in training and it gave me the chance to see a number of new players. We have now picked what we believe are our best combinations and our aim is to see how far we have come and test ourselves against the likes of Kazakhstan,” Garvey said.

Hong Kong will face a stern test meeting Asian champions Kazakhstan on May 18, followed by Japan (May 21) and Singapore (May 24). Kazakhstan, who qualified for the World Cup last year, will present a strong challenge up-front while Japan’s fast backs will offer a different challenge.

“It is good that we will face two different styles before we take on Singapore. It will be fantastic preparation but we are not just focusing on Singapore. We want to make an impact against the other two teams as well,” Garvey said. “We have struggled in the past against them but I believe the gap is closing and with the return of all our sevens players, I’m confident we can push them,” he added.

The Asian Women’s Four Nations championships will be held at Aberdeen Stadium on Sunday (May 18), Wednesday (May 21) and Saturday (May 24). Kick off times are 15.00 and 17.00 for the round robin competition and admission is free.

Hong Kong Squad for the Asian Women’s Four Nations:
CHAN Hoi Ping Emmy (Gai Wu), CHAN Leong Sze Royce (HKFC), CHENG Cheuk Yui (Police), CHENG Ka Chi Christy (captain) (Gai Wu), CHENG Tsz Ting (Gai Wu), CHING Tsz Yung (Gai Wu), FONG, Rose Margaret Siu-Lan (CWB), GORDON, Christine (Valley), HO Hoi Lam (Gai Wu), IAFETA, Elizabeth (Valley), KWONG Sau Yan (Tai Po Dragons), LAI Pou Fan (DeA), LAU Nga Wun (Gai Wu), LEE Ka Shun (Gai Wu), LEE Allison (HKFC), LI Nim Yan Melody Blessing (Gai Wu), Nam Ka Man (DeA), NG Suet Ying (Kowloon), OLSON-THORNE, Natasha Shangwe (DeA), POON Pak Yan (Gai Wu), SCHRODER, Elizabeth Mai (DeA), SEURE, Amelie (Valley), SHAM Wai Sum (Gai Wu), TSANG, Wing Lam (DeA), WONG Yuen Shan (DeA), YUEN, Lok Yee (Kowloon)

Asian Women’s Four Nations,

May 18: Japan v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Hong Kong v Kazakhstan (k/o 17:00)

May 21: Kazakhstan v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Hong Kong v Japan (k/o 17:00)

May 24: Hong Kong v Singapore (k/o 15:00); Kazakhstan v Japan (k/o 17:00)

Where: Aberdeen Stadium, Hong Kong
How Much: Free
More info: www.hkrfu.com

HK Women’s 7s 2014

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147846480&k=7jdMxgR

A fantastic day of high quality women’s rugby saw Canada retain the HK Women’s 7s trophy after beating France in a pulsating cup final in front of 40,000 screaming fans. Earlier Kazakhstan making their tournament debut triumphed in the Plate final 12:7 over China while Hong Kong finally found their form to convincingly win the Bowl final 33:7 over Kenya.

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147865231&k=9rbzgwg

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http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147831850&k=ggWwdLd

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http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147841524&k=QsB6gkH

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147875638&k=rgkQmtz

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147882278&k=MqGDvtK

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147879702&k=3nGT3H7

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/HK-Womens-7s-28-March-2014/38118806_K9BhxJ#!i=3147845719&k=K7FHr4P
click on the photos to see more

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bc magazine’s coverage of the HK Women’s 7s 2014 is supported by Embankment.
Vietnamese cuisine, perfect after the 7s or anytime.
Embankment: 2/F, 470-484 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, t: 3568 2110
and by Sony – a7r full frame mirrorless cameras

Hong Kong v Japan

Hong Kong v Japan
Date: 8pm, 7 June, 2017
Venue: Mongkok Stadium
Tickets: $150 from Cityline