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MANILA (AFP) –
Alastair Maclay of Hong Kong (R) is tackled by Philippine rugby player Darran Seeto during their Rugby Asian Five-Nations match at the Rizal Memorial stadium in Manila on May 4, 2013. Hong Kong won 59-20.
Hong Kong beat the Philippines in a hard-fought match at the Asian Five Nations rugby tournament, scoring 59-20 despite an enthusiastic crowd backing the home team on Saturday.
The Philippine team was hoping to redeem itself before a Manila crowd in the first home game of the tournament after suffering a humiliating 121-0 defeat to five-time defending champions Japan in Fukuoka on April 20.
The hometown crowd erupted in jubilation early in the match when Filipino-American fly-half Alex Aronson scored a penalty kick to establish an early lead of 3-0.
With a raucous band beating drums in the background, the Philippine team initially held Hong Kong off, but fly-half Mike Glancy’s conversion in the first half turned the tide as the visitors steadily overtook the home team.
Hong Kong was defeated by Japan 38-0 on April 27 and is due to face South Korea on May 18.
The Philippines will meet South Korea on May 11 before another home game against the UAE on May 18.
