Hong Kong beats South Korea in opener

Hong Kong launched their bid for an automatic World Cup qualifying berth yesterday, beating South Korea 32-8 in the opening clash of the 2010 Asian Five Nations.

With a place at rugby's showpiece in New Zealand next year on offer to the winner of this year's elite championship, the home side made a tentative start at Hong Kong Football Club, set amid skyscrapers.

They trailed 8-0 early after a South Korean penalty and unconverted try to Choi Si-Won. But after weathering the early pressure, Hong Kong, who missed a number of chances to register on the scoreboard, came back strongly as the visitors tired, going into the break with a 10-8 lead after a converted try to Nigel Clarke.

In the second half it was one-way traffic as Hong Kong made their superior fitness count, with further tries to Keith Robertson, a second for Clarke and a score for Tom McQueen.

It was sweet revenge for 39th-ranked Hong Kong, who lost 36-34 to South Korea last year despite a stirring comeback.

Kazakhstan were due to play the Arabian Gulf in Almaty later yesterday.

The winner of the Five Nations will go into World Cup Pool A alongside New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada while the runners-up will go into a play-off process starting with a match against Uruguay in July.

Japan, not playing on the opening weekend of the tournament, are the hot favourites to seize the automatic World Cup spot, coming into the 2010 tournament with a 100 per cent record since the Five Nations was launched in 2008.

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