Japan beat Hong Kong 38-14 to clinch the Asian Rugby Sevens Series event in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo and finish top of the continent's inaugural Sevens Series to lead Asia's march to the 2010 Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.

The six Asian sides qualified for the flagship Hong Kong event in 2010 are Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Chinese Taipei and Thailand.

Japan were the form side of the tournament in Borneo, posting 187 points and conceding just 26 over their six matches.

In the semi finals, the Japanese edged Shanghai winners Korea 10-7, while injury-hit Hong Kong hobbled through by beating hosts Malaysia 22-17.

Japan's dominance extended into the final. Michio Iwa put them 7-0 up early on and, although Keith Robertson replied in the fifth minute, Kenji Shomen capitalised on an error to dive over and give Japan a 12-7 half time lead.

In the second half, Japan put paid to any hopes Hong Kong had of a comeback with two quick tries by Usaku Kuwazuru and Atsushi Tujiya. Michio Iwa stretched the lead to 31-7 and Kensuke Iwabuchi rounded off a convincing win. Hong Kong winger Salom Yiu Kam Shing added a last bright moment for the losing finalists, but it was nothing more than a consolation, Japan winning 38-14.

In the Bronze match, Korea were too strong for a tired Malaysian side, winning 31-7.

Japan inaugural champions

Japan's win gives them an insurmountable lead at the top of the Asian Rugby Sevens Series standings with 23 points, one ahead of Korea and two in front of Hong Kong.

Two events remain - in Iran on 20-22 November and Sri Lanka on 28-29 November - but the Borneo Sevens is the second of two ranking events in the inaugural Series. The final standings table below will be effective for the remainder of 2009 and will be used for Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) competitions, multi-sport games and IRB Sevens World Series events when applicable.

In the Plate China triumphed against the surprise package of the weekend, Philippines. The latter side had meaten Chinese Taipei and Thailand, but had no answer to China, who beat them 31-0 to clinch fifth place in Borneo and fourth in the overall Series.

In the Bowl, Chinese Taipei finished on a high, beating India 19-0. The Chinese Taipei side finished ninth in Borneo, but still qualify for Hong Kong on the strength of their previous performance.

Worthy of mention were Guam, playing their first Asian Rugby Sevens Series event and victorious against favoured Thailand 24-7 to finish in seventh place.

2009 Asian Rugby Sevens Series Schedule
Shanghai Sevens, China - September 12-13
Brunei Sevens - October 24-25
Borneo Sevens, Kota Kinabalu - October 31 - November 1
Kish Island Sevens, Iran - November 20-22
Sri Lanka Sevens, November 28-29

Asian Rugby Sevens Series standings
1 Japan
2 Korea
3 Hong Kong
4 China
5 Chinese Taipei
6 Thailand
7 Malaysia
8 India
9 Philippines
10 Sri Lanka
10 Guam
11 Singapore
12 Brunei
13 Indonesia