Canada join Kiwis at top table
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:42
Hosts New Zealand saw off the stiff challenge of rejuvenated World Series champions South Africa in the final game of Day One of the New Zealand leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series, in Wellington on Friday.
While New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and England all eased through as pool-toppers, the Canadians also claimed a deserved place in the Cup quarterfinals after recording the day's two upsets against Argentina and improved France.
The Canadians play defending champions England in the last eight. New Zealand face trans-Tasman rivals Australia, Samoa take on Kenya and South Africa will play Fiji.
New Zealand currently lead the race for the 11th IRB Sevens World Series after victories in both Dubai and George and remain the favourites to win back the title that England took away from them last year.
Cup quarterfinals:
New Zealand v Australia
Samoa v Kenya
England v Canada
Fiji v South
Africa
We bring you all the Day One action from Wellington!
Pool A:
(New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, Niue)
New Zealand were made to work hard by a much-improved South African side but came through their toughest test 19-7 to finish day one with a 100 percent record. The Kiwis' first two matches against Wales and Niue did nothing to lengthen the bookies' odds on them to win here. Captain DJ Forbes was in fine form to lead from the front in a convincing 29-5 win against the World Cup winners and the kiwis followed that up with another impressive performance against Niue.
Their match against the World Series champion Boks, though, was a much tighter encounter. Sherwin Stowers gave them the lead, which cancelled out by Ryno Benjamin before Zar Lawrence and Kurt Baker edged them home.
Earlier, South Africa beat the Niueans 38-10, Steven Hunt scoring twice, and the Boks registered their second win against Wales, Cecil Afrika the star in a comfortable win.
Wales' win against the Niueans secured them a favourable draw in the Bowl quarterfinals, where they will play PNG.
Results:
Match 7: New Zealand 29-5 Wales
Match 8: South Africa 38-10 Niue
Match 15: New Zealand 49-5 Niue
Match 16: South Africa 38-5 Wales
Match 20: Wales 26-12 Niue
Match 24: New Zealand 19-7 South Africa
Pool B:
(Fiji, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Scotland)
Fiji finished the day unbeaten with wins against Scotland, PNG and Australia, and so far look the side most likely to trouble New Zealand. Australia also proceed to the Cup quarters in second place.
While William Ryder scored his 100th career try in the Fijians' opener, Osea Kolinisau scored twice in their 36-5 win against Scotland and then they scored seven unanswered tries against PNG, the Oceania qualifiers coached by Waisale Serevi.
Australia had to come from behind to beat PNG 31-12 and were then too strong for the Scots, Brackin Karauria-Henry scoring two in a 24-7 win.
Scotland registered their first win of the tournament against Papua New Guinea before Fiji rounded off their first day with a convincing 38-7 win against the Aussies.
Results:
Match 5: Fiji 3605 Scotland
Match 6: Australia 31-12 Papua New Guinea
Match 13: Fiji 41-0 Papua New Guinea
Match 14: Australia 24-7 Scotland
Match 19: Scotland 34-5 Papua New Guinea
Match 23: Fiji 38-7 Australia
Pool C:
(England, Kenya, Tonga, United States)
Defending champions England have gone unbeaten on day one in Wellington, but have lost their captain Kevin Barrett through injury. Ben Ryan's side was too good for the USA, Mat Turner scoring twice in a 31-7 win, and then they kept their composure to grind out hard-fought wins against Tonga and Kenya.
The Kenyans were made to work far harder by new look Tonga, winning 15-7 and then came good against the USA to book their own place in the Cup quarters.
USA recovered from their two opening losses to post a morale-boosting win against tired Tonga in their final match of the day.
Results:
Match 3: England 31-7 United States
Match 4: Kenya 15-7 Tonga
Match 11: England 24-19 Tonga
Match 12: Kenya 24-7 United States
Match 18: United States 15-7 Tonga
Match 22: England 24-10 Kenya
Pool D:
(Canada, Samoa, France, Argentina)
While Samoa topped Pool D unbeaten, Morgan Williams' Canada team stole the show with two dramatic victories against Argentina and France to join them in the Cup quarter finals.
Reupena Levasa scored three as the Samoans beat off the stiff challenge of France and then they triumphed over Morgan Williams' young Cannucks, who themselves kicked off with a very good win against Argentina.
The Pumas recovered to beat France 19-5 but came up short against Samoa in the pool's final game - a result that also confirmed Canada's last eight berth.
Rsults:
Match 1: Samoa 31-19 France
Match 2: Argentina 26-7 Canada
Match 9: Samoa 27-14 Canada
Match 10: Argentina 19-5 France
Match 17: France 19-21 Canada
Match 21: Samoa 33-14 Argentina
With thanks to the IRB
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