IRB Sevens: Fiji closing in on NZ
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:11
Thankful players: Fijian Sevens flyer Seremaia Burotu
Fiji managed to close the gap on leaders New Zealand, when they edged fellow Pacific Islanders Samoa in a dramatic Final on Day Two of the Wellington leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series on Saturday.
Fiji won a stunning Final of breathless intensity 19-14 against Samoa.
Iliesa Tanivula's side were the outstanding side of the tournament, ending England's title defence at the semifinal stage and then going on to clinch a first Wellington crown since 2006.
In doing so, they also cut New Zealand's lead in the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series to just four points.
Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand side came up short against a superb Samoan display of power and trickery in their semifinal, the returning Uale Mai inspiring the Samoans to a convincing 24-14 win.
Fiji then ended England's brave title defence, forwards Setefano Cakau, Seremaia Burotu and Pio Tuwai doing much of the damage as they ran out 28-19 winners.
Australia were too strong for South Africa in a Plate Final running out 26-22 winners, Wales won their third Bowl trophy of the season with a hard-fought 7-5 victory against France and the United States Eagles beat Tonga 17-14 in the Shield Final.
We bring you all the Day Two action!
Bowl quarterfinals:
The tiny island nation of Niue caused a major upset when they beat Scotland to reach the semis of the Bowl.
Wales will play Argentina for a place in the final of the Bowl - a replay of last year's Rugby World Cup Sevens final. in the other half of the draw France will take on Niue after the islanders won a fine victory against Scotland.
The losers of the Bowl quarter finals - PNG, Tonga, USA and Scotland - go on to contest the Shield.
Results:
Match 25: Wales 31-12 Papua New Guinea
Match 26: Argentina 17-7 Tonga
Match 27: United States 10-21 France
Match 28: Scotland
12-17 Niue
Cup quarterfinals:
Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand side got their day two campaign off to the winning start they needed against Australia and are through to the Cup semis.
Also already through are Samoa, who fought from behind to beat Kenya, and England who were made to fight but possessed too much for Canada.
In the final match in the Cup quarterfinals Fiji scored their third successive tournament win over South Africa - having also knocked the Boks out in the quarterfinals in Dubai and George.
Hosts New Zealand beat trans-Tasman rivals Australia to reach the Cup semis and will play Samoa after the islanders fought back from 12-0 down, captain Lolo Lui grabbing two fine tries.
In the other half of the draw England had to wait six minutes to register their first score against surprise package Canada, but went on to win 31-0 against the young Cannucks.
Australia, Kenya, Canada and South Africa go on to contest the Plate.
Results:
Match 29: New Zealand 24-12 Australia
Match 30: Samoa 14-12 Kenya
Match 31: England 31-0 Canada
Match 32: Fiji 21-5 South Africa
Shield semifinals:
Tonga are through to play the United States in the Final of the Shield after the two sides won their respective semi finals against PNG and Scotland.
Siaosi Iongi scored a brace for Tonga in their 26-10 win over a brave Papua New Guinea outfit, while he also added three conversions. Nese Malifa was The US Eagles' star, as he scored two of their three and added two conversions in a tight encounter.
Results:
Match 33: Papua New Guinea 10-26 Tonga
Match 34: United States 19-12 Scotland
Bowl semifinals:
Wales will play Argentina for a place in the final of the Bowl - a replay of last year's Rugby World Cup Sevens final. in the other half of the draw France will take on Niue after the islanders won a fine victory against
Darren Daniel scored twice, while Alex Cuthbert scored a third try and added a conversion as Wales edged Argentina in another tight semifinal encounter. Paul Albaladejo scored a try and kicked all four his conversions as France showed too much pace and power in their 28-12 win over Niue.
Results:
Match 35: Wales 17-12 Argentina
Match 36: France 28-12 Niue
Plate semifinals:
Australia will play South Africa for the consolation prize, the Plate trophy, after they won their respective semifinals against Kenya and Canada respectively.
Australia overwhelmed Kenya 26-17 to reach the final of the Plate competition and will now play South Africa, who had too much in the tank for Canada, winning 29-5. Two tries by Clinton Sills is what set the Aussie win up, while strong Frankie Horne added a double for South Africa in their win.
Results:
Match 37: Australia 26-17 Kenya
Match 38: Canada 5-29 South Africa
Cup semifinals:
Samoa edged New Zealand in a thrilling, and at times very bruising, semifinal to set up a Final showdown against fellow Pacific Islanders Fiji.
The little master Uale Mai produced a brilliant hat-trick in Samoa's 24-14, four-try victory over the Kiwis - two of those crucial scores midway through the second half when Samoa raced from 5-7 down to take an unassailable 24-7 lead - before New Zealand scored a late consolation try.
The tries were spread across the Fijian team, but the crucial score was William's Ryder's late try, which put the Fijians more that two converted tries clear and not even a late score could save the day for England. Emosi Vucago, with nine points (a try and two conversions), also made a valuable contribution.
Results:
Match 39: New Zealand 14-24 Samoa
Match 40: England 19-28 Fiji
Shield Final:
One week before their home tournament in Las Vegas, Al Caravelli's Eagles beat Tonga to the Wellington Shield. Matt Hawkins, Nick Edwards and Paul Emerick all scored as the US came from behind to win 17-14.
Result:
Match 41: Tonga 14-17 United States
Bowl Final:
Wales won their third Bowl trophy of the season with a hard-fought 7-5 victory against France.
Result:
Match 42: Wales 7-5 France
Plate Final:
For the second tournament running Australia were too strong for South Africa in a Plate final, running out 26-22 winners thanks to Clinton Sills' late try. They take 12 points towards their World Series tally, after twice coming back in a fiercely contested encounter.
Result:
Match 43: Australia 26-22 South Africa
Cup Final:
Fiji have cliched the Final after winning a stunning final of breathless intensity 19-14 against South Sea Island rivals Samoa.
Fiji and Samoa laid on a stunning showpiece final for the packed Westpac Stadium crowd.
Jiuta Lutumailagi and Mikaele Pesamino swapped converted tries in the first 10-minute half, to make it 7-7 at the break.
Emosi Vucago raced over to edge the Fijians seven ahead shortly after the break and Osea Kolinisau's score put them 19-7 up with two-and-half minutes to go, but still the Samoans hit back.
Pesamino grabbed a second try with a minute to play and only desperate Fijian defence held the Samoans out in the dying seconds.
Result:
Match 44: Samoa 14-19 Fiji
With thanks to the IRB
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