Both Hong Kong, playing as the Hong Kong Dragons and the SA Sevens team, in the guise of the SA Vipers, made a comfortable start at the 2010 edition of the Singapore Cricket Club International Sevens.

Hong Kong Dragons, on their way to Guangzhou for the Asian Games, looked efficient in the opening spell against the Flying Kukris, leading 17-0 and they eventually triumphed 38-0.

Coach Dai Rees admitted the performance was a little “rusty“.

“We turned the ball over a little bit too much but it is a little bit greasy and the ball is difficult to handle,” he said.

“We’ve set our sights on a quarter-final of the Cup so we have to work hard tomorrow against two decent sides. And it’s also about getting guys ready for the Asian Games. Rowan Varty and Mark Wright haven’t played Sevens since the Hong Kong event in Marchand Jeff Wong is back after an ACL reconstruction so it’s about getting game time.”

The South Africans had an easy day one in Singapore, which, for the first time ever, was played under flood-lights.

Branco Du Preez makes a break for the SA Vipers in Singapore.

Playing in maroon, the South African Vipers started their defence of the Ablitt Cup with a 47-14 win over Sri Lanka, another team bound for the Asian Games, in Pool F.

Coach Paul Treu wasn’t too upset at condeding two tries.

“It was a good effort to get the new players onto the field,” said Treu. “Our sweeper has never played Sevens before so it is good to learn this way and we can build from this match. A few years ago we won the final 10-5 and that’s what we want – tough games where we concede tries – because otherwise we don’t know what we’re doing wrong.”

Captain Kyle Brown and Frankie Horne, who both missed the Commonwealth Games with injury, made solid starts on their return.

“It’s comforting to know that some of the experienced players are back and we’ve given some of the others a break after Delhi.

“We’re not going to get this type of practice at home so it’s an important tournament for us. The most important thing out of this tournament is for the young players to learn.”

The Pool games conclude tomorrow (Saturday) with the knock-out rounds scheduled for Sunday.

(Cheers to UR7s for the report from the Lion City)

Stay close to our sister-website BlitzBokke.com for the latest from Singapore.

When I reported in an earlier article that the boats taking part in the inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia will be packed up and shipped off to the next leg in Singapore “soon after” the Hong Kong leg, I didn’t realise just how “soon” it would be!  

I watched in awe as skipper and double Olympic Gold Medalist Shirley Robertson and her crew prepare and load their craft Rumbo Almeira onto it’s trailer immediately after finishing the final race of the Hong Kong leg of the Series on Tuesday afternoon.  The boat was lowered onto it’s trailer within minutes after the final race concluded in Victoria Harbour.

The teams had just enough time for a quick post-race debriefing before attending the official prize-giving at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.

The Extreme Sailing Series Asia now moves on to Singapore for the second leg (December 11-15) before the inaugural series concludes in Muscat , Oman , from February 1-5. 

(4 pictures below)