Hong Kong got their HSBC Asian 5 Nations campaign off to a dream start with a convincing 32-8 victory over Korea, a result which boosts their hopes of qualifying for a first ever Rugby World Cup.

The Asian 5 Nations winner will qualify as the region's representative for RWC 2011 - joining hosts New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada in Pool A - with the runner up entering the cross-continental play-off to determine the 20th and final qualifier.

Kazakhstan are another team with an eye on that prize, having finished second in 2009 behind Asia's top side Japan. The Kazakhs also got their campaign off to a winning start with a 43-28 defeat of the Arabian Gulf.

It was Hong Kong, though, who stole the limelight on the opening weekend with a four-try victory over Korea, a side they had lost 36-34 to in last year's competition despite scoring four unanswered tries in the last 20 minutes.

Foundations for victory

On that day, Korea came racing out of the blocks to establish a 24-0 lead inside 17 minutes, and it appeared that the same could happen again with Oh Youn Hyung kicking a penalty and wing Choi Si Won's try giving the visitors an 8-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Hong Kong's forwards though set the foundation for victory, the home side moving the ball around and retaining possession well as they made deep inroads into Korean territory at the Hong Kong Football Club with centres Rowan Varty and Simon Hempel regularly exposing holes in the defence.

Fly half Keith Robertson missed two early penalties, but Hong Kong nerves eased when just before half time Nigel Clarke grabbed the first of his two tries, smashing his way over from close range. Robertson kicked the conversion and a penalty to send his side in 10-8 at the break.

Hong Kong began the second half strongly and were rarely threatened thereafter with Korean offensive efforts further blunted with the loss of full back Kim Won-Yong, a backline stalwart and Sevens star, through injury.

Robertson missed another easy penalty, but he made up for it by creating and converting Hong Kong's second try, helped by a lovely exchange of passes with wing Alex McQueen to score under the posts.

"The dream lives on"

The lead was extended to 22-8 when tireless forward Clarke crossed for his second try, capping some solid lead up work by brothers Tom and Alex McQueen and captain Simon Leung.

Tom McQueen then gave Hong Kong a crucial bonus point with a fourth try, finishing off another flowing move that was started by Robertson and involved Varty, who drew the defence and off-loaded beautifully for the replacement to score.

Robertson knocked over the conversion to take his personal tally to 14 points for the day and there was still time for Alex McQueen to put the icing on Hong Kong's cake with a late penalty to give the hosts a comprehensive win.

"This is an awesome start, and just what we wanted," said Leung. "It was a great squad effort, but we have to keep our feet on the ground as we still have another three games to go."

Hong Kong coach Dai Rees added: "The dream lives on. Nobody expects us to win, and that is why this is a dream. There is now a strong possibility that we can at least finish second."

If Hong Kong do finish as runners up behind title favourites Japan - who have not lost a match in the two year history of the Asian 5 Nations, recording eight bonus point wins - then they would face Uruguay for the right to meet either a European side or Tunisia in November.

Strong finish for Kazakhstan

Hong Kong's encounter with Kazakhstan on 8 May could now prove decisive in determining second spot, after the Kazakhs also recovered from a slow start against Arabian Gulf with the visitors to the University Stadium in Almaty establishing an early 14-0 lead, centre Trent Eastgate crossing for the opening try.

Kazakhstan, one of Asia's most improved sides in recent years, gradually clawed their way back with Grigoriy Ivanchenko touching down before his side took the lead in the dying minutes of the first half with Anton Rudoy's try.

The home side's advantage had grown to 16 points within 10 minutes of the restart with Rudoy touching down his second try in between two penalties from full back Maxim Liifontov, who would end the match with 21 points to his name.

Arabian Gulf, promoted back to the Top 5 after winning Division I last year, fought back with tries from flanker Edward LePine-Williams and full back James Love to trail 33-28 with 20 minutes remaining.

However, Kazakhstan were not to be denied in front of a raucous 4,000 plus home crowd and, after visiting prop Michael Riley was sin-binned, Lifontov kicked his fifth penalty of the afternoon before Rudoy completed his hat-trick.

Hong Kong sit above Kazakhstan in the standings on point differential as they prepare for a trip to Bahrain to tackle Arabian Gulf on Friday. Kazakhstan sit out round two when Japan enter the fray, taking on Korea in Gyeonsang on Saturday.

Korea's hopes of causing a huge upset to get their Asian 5 Nations and RWC 2011 qualification challenge back on track, though, have not been helped by the four-week suspension of key player You Young-Nam for striking an opponent.