Asia Rugby Women’s Championship
Almaty, Kazakhstan
This was just what the doctor and World Rugby ordered. A tight, exciting game played in a corner of central Asia that is rarely the centre of attention.
Kazakhstan deserved their narrow win. They have been deprived of international matches far more than they wished. They have competed several times at a World Cup, but only now can they feel they are getting back on track. Their 4-point win means they will face Japan on 28 May to dispute a place in WXV2. The loser qualifies for Tier 3.
They started well, the No 10, Diana Abisheva, dummying to gain ground. After a fast recycle the ball spun out to the left wing where Amina Tulegenova crossed. But they made a familiar error, offering HKC’s No 10, Aileen Ryan, a shot at goal that she accepted.
HKC were under pressure at the scrum but had worked on quick release to secure possession. A line-out worked well for them; a peel and they were over to take the lead.
Another immediate error led to a quick set-back: the drop-out was fumbled, a Kazakh boot punted ahead and the TMO agreed the ball was touched down just before the dead-ball line. (10-8)
This wasn’t a harum-scarum game, but the handling wasn’t efficient enough to keep possession and build confidence. Defences were strong on both sides, but ball-carriers kept on hammering at the opposition.
One recurrent weakness was the height of tackes. One such gave Ryan a second penalty, but the referee felt in her pocket only once to signal a yellow.
As the break approached, Kazakhstan wisely opted for a set-scrum at a penalty. They heaved ad heaved and were over.
For a third time, indiscretion paid the price. Anther high tackle by a Kazakh allowed HKC to return inside only one point down.
Half time 17-16
Would HRC’s greater big-match experience decide the issue? They had made recent tours, while the pale blue-shirted Kazakhs had been kicking their heels.
Not to start with! On three minutes Kazakhstan put together a quality move, finished on the far left with a flourish. They built another promising move, but when a few more quick recycles might have brought another score, they slowed down, leaving the ball at the rear of a ruck, just as if they were a men’s test team.
No matter, after two successive penalties took them close, a clean line-out a quick peel brought a fourth try. (27-16) A lack of game awareness prevented them from consolidating this promising lead, but the crowd was roaring them on (KA-ZAKH-STAN!)
Suddenly the HKC captain, Natasha Olson-Thorne, was set free on the right and raced over. (27-23) There were still 20 minutes to play, so both teams had to concentrate on effective choices of play: coaches had to make the right calls for replacements.
For most of that final quarter the home team were on top, but they could afford no errors. Suddenly Mariya Grishina put up a high kick. It was caught, but the follow-up was rapid, and left the visitors hanging on for all they were worth. But powerful tackling did hold up, much to their credit.
As the final whistle blew, the Kazakhs were still pounding the line, so to that extent they can claim they thoroughly deserved their win.
They will need to be at their best again the Japanese, who play an ultra-quick game, with searching combinations and sound defence. But the Kazakhs can take great credit from this rare home game.
Result: Kazakhstan 27 Hong kong China 23
Teams
Kazakhstan
Yurova, Kim, Kamendrovskaya, Kazibekova, Zhamankulova, Kibisheva, Pichugina, Sanzontova, Grishina, Abisheva, Stepanyuga, Melnikova, Sherer, Tulegenova, Bakytbek
Bench: Tankisheva, Askhat, Simakova, Malezhina, Alayeva, Drobovskaya, Odnoletok, Melnikova
Hong Kong, China
Ng, Lam, Lee, Turner, Chow, Pun, Li, T.Lam, Ho, Ryan, Chong, Qian, Olson-Thorne, Nam, Wright
Bench: Got, Chan, Richardson, Baltazar, Au Yeung, Au, Fung, Z. Smith
