South Korea Claim 2nd Spot in Asia with 43-22 Win Over Hong Kong in A5N

South Korea cemented their spot as number two in Asia behind Japan after they stormed to a 43-22 victory over Hong Kong in the HSBC Asian Five Nations (HSBC A5N) Top Five competition in Ansan on Saturday.

Korea scored seven tries, a couple when down to 13 men late in the second half, with outstanding fly-half Oh Youn Hyung the top points-scorer in 2013 grabbing a hat-trick while winger Kim Gwong Min scored a brace to finish as the top try-scorer in the tournament with eight tries.

Japan finished the sixth season in their familiar position at the top of the standings with a maximum 20 points from four games. The battle for second place had always been between Korea and Hong Kong, and for the second successive year the Koreans got the upper hand over their rivals who had been hoping to finish off on a high looking ahead to next year’s 2015 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Korea led 12-6 at the break with Kim and Oh each scoring a try. Hong Kong fly-half Niall Rowark kept his side in the match knocking over two penalties. It could have been even closer but the Hong Kong backline failed to make good use of the possession won by their hard-working forwards.

South Korea Claim 2nd Spot in Asia with 43-22 Win Over Hong Kong

“We worked hard to stay in touch but they are a good side,” said Hong Kong head coach Leigh Jones. “Our forwards played superbly but unfortunately the same cannot be said of our backs.”

Hong Kong No.8 Pale Tauti was a driving force and at the helm of many attacks as the visiting pack held their own in the set pieces and turned over ball on a number of occasions. But despite sterling work from lock Charles French, breakaway Matt Lamming and loosehead Ian Ridgway, Hong Kong failed to turn territory into points in the first half.

Korea came storming off the blocks in the second half with both Oh and Kim scoring their second tries to stretch the lead to 24-6. Rowark cut the deficit with his third successful penalty before winger Jonny Rees was on hand to finish off a multi-phase move with a try in the corner to make it 24-14. Rowark then added another penalty to bring Hong Kong within range again, 24-17.

Korea lost loosehead prop Kim Kwang Sik to the sin-bin, being sent off for repeatedly transgressing at the breakdown. But despite his absence, it was Korea who scored with Oh completing his hat-trick to stretch the lead to 31-17.

The home team was then reduced to 13 men with substitute Jang Seong Min being shown the yellow card for a similar offence. Yet again it was Korea who responded better under pressure, but perhaps fortuitously with centre Kim Nam Uk intercepting to run 80 metres for a try under the posts.

Oh knocked over the conversion to take his personal tally in the match to 23 and finish as the top points-scorer in the tournament, bettering Japanese fullback Ayumu Goramaru, with 68 points.

Korea finished with a flourish with replacement flanker Kim Jeong Min finishing off a lovely burst from scrumhalf Yang Young Hun to score by the right corner flag.

“They are a good side. They have a lot of players playing professionally in the Japan Top League and we couldn’t afford to give them an easy lead which they had on a number of occasions during the match,” Jones said.

Fullback and skipper Tom McColl scored a late consolation try to make the final score 43-22, but there was little to celebrate at the end for Hong Kong.