Aliens, New Zealand Legends and Eagles Soar to Cup Quarter Finals of GFI HKFC Tens

Bryce Heems and Simon Munro were on song as defending champions Aliens began their campaign to win a ninth Cup title at the GFI HKFC Tens in smooth fashion when they finished unbeaten after the first day’s action at the Hong Kong Football Club.

The Aliens began convincingly as they knocked over the Chinese Agricultural University, Aussie Country Invitational and a Hong Kong’s Chairman’s X in their opening pool games.

Heems and Munro each scored six tries on the opening day as the Aliens hammered the Beijing-based undergrads 51-0 and then didn’t concede a try as they swept past the Australians, winning 29-0 to get off to a quick start in pool A.

Despite the convincing results and the impressive display by his speedmen, manager Eddie Evans said a lot needed to be done if the Aliens were to successfully retain their crown for another year.

“I think in the first game, the Chinese boys came out pretty fired up and prepared some stiff defence. But our guys just executed and things went well for us so it was a good, a well-run game for us,” Evans said.

He was less complimentary after the second hit-out against the Australian Country Invitational.

“We just didn’t seem to click that well,” Evans said. “I think we struggled somewhat, they had a harder defense, and it was a very scrappy game. But we are pleased to have so far achieved what we came for.”

The Aliens will meet the Wild Titans in the Cup quarterfinals on Thursday and could face the Borneo Eagles in the semi-finals if everything goes to plan.

Evans warned it would not be easy to defend their title. He said: “There’s a couple good teams here. Borneo Eagles are looking solid and the Legends are always going to be in the mix as well. I don’t think there is going to be any easy games for us. It will be pretty tough all the way through.”

The other leading contenders, the New Zealand Legends and the Eagles also got off to winning starts, with the only seeded team to lose on the opening day being the Penguins.

In pool B, last year’s runners-up New Zealand Legends defeated the Flying Kukris 41-0 in their opener, and then stepped up the style to knock back the Hill and Associates Hong Kong Barbarians who included sevens legend Waisale Serevi 47-0 before finishing it off with a win over Wild Titans.

The Hong Kong Barbarians were also narrowly beaten by Wild Titans 14-7 but in their final pool outing, they turned on the style and with Serevi leading the way in the playmaker’s role at flyhalf, romped to the highest score of the day, a 71-0 victory over the Flying Kukris.

Penguins, seeking their first Cup victory at the Tens, also won their opening two games, defeating hosts CBRE Club and Cardiff University by identical margins of 47-0 in pool C, but then stumbled in their final pool game losing to Samurai 24-12. The Penguins will still go through to the Cup quarterfinals where they will meet the Borneo Eagles at 12.20.

The Eagles also began strongly in pool D, defeating the Hong Kong Overseas old Boys 31-0 and Irish Vikings 21-0 before capping the day’s effort with a 17-7 victory over KIR Club French Pyrenees. The Pyrenees side will meet he Samurai in the Cup quarterfinal at 12.45.

New Zealand Legends finished their day with a convincing 21-nil victory over Wild Titans to set up their Cup quarterfinal match with Aussie Country Invitational today at 13.10.

Thursday’s action begins at 10.15.

The Hong Kong Rugby Sevens takes place this weekend 26 - 28 March 2010.

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