China and Guam reached the finals of the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Division III tournament after convincing wins while Pakistan will face Indonesia for 3rd and 4th place today (Thursday). Guam opened the action with a 37-10 victory over under strength Pakistan while China outpaced hosts Indonesia, 32-23. The match between tournament top seeds China and fourth seeds Indonesia was a game of two halves – scrumhalves that is, as China’s Zhang Zhiqiang and Indonesia’s Kirk Arundale combined for 17 and 18 of their team’s totals respectively.
In the opening semi final, second seeds Pakistan met third seeds Guam in an encounter played in difficult conditions with the heat sapping much of the crowd’s hopes for free-flowing rugby. Pakistan opened the match with a promising start putting the Guam defence under pressure from the kick-off and earning an early penalty which was converted by fullback Manam Naseem for a 3-nil lead. But Pakistan, who were only able to dress 20 players due to visa complications, soon fell off the pace, conceding much of the opening 40 to Guam. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of ball possession and territory in the first half, Guam could only manage a 13-3 lead at halftime through tries to centre Chris Sgro and winger Stephen Santos and a penalty from Sgro.
Pakistan dug deep in the second half to reassert itself and both teams managed to add more pace and fluidity to the encounter. But the deficit and the exertion of playing under strength was ultimately too much for Pakistan as Guam racked up a further 24 points in the second half.
Guam scored twice in the first ten minutes of the second half through tries to captain Paul Claros and flanker Rob Leon Guerrero to put the game beyond reach. Pakistan replied through a try to Khawar Ashraf, one of eight new caps amongst the 20 players dressed for the game. Manan Naseem added the conversion to bring Pakistan to 25-10. But Guam quickly put the match out of reach after tries to Steven Sablan and No. 8 John Arceo.
Guam coach Willie Hetaraka was pleased with the result. He said, “We knew from last year’s tournament that Pakistan would be strong up front. We have had the boys on a conditioning programme since the end of Division III last year and I am very pleased that we were able to grind out a win.”