Pumas stun Samoa
Sat, 29 May 2010 13:28
World Series leaders Samoa opened up with two strong wins, but were comprehensively beaten by Argentina on Day One of the final leg on the IRB Sevens World Series in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The islanders still top their pool on points difference.
New Zealand won all of their games, including the decider against South Africa so will avoid the Samoans in the Cup quarterfinals.
Scotland stole the show with brilliant wins against Fiji and USA. Portugal gave England a Cup quarterfinal lifeline by beating Canada.
Cup quarterfinals:
Samoa v South Africa
Scotland v England
Australia v Fiji
New Zealand v Argentina
On day two at Murrayfield all eyes will be on the crucial battle between New Zealand and Samoa for the 11th IRB Sevens World Series title. New Zealand have won eight of the 10 World Series so far but began the final event at Murrayfield seven points adrift of Samoa.
We look at all the Day One action!
Pool A
(Samoa, Argentina, Kenya, France)
Series leaders Samoa started with a superb 42-5 win against Kenya and followed up with a battling win against improved France, but then hit the self-detruct button against Argentina.
The islanders still topped the group on points difference from Argentina, whose 31-10 win also relegated France to the Bowl, but another nine Puma points against them would have sent them tumbling out of the Cup and into the Bowl.
France started with a strong win against Argentina and followed defeat against Samoa with an impressive performance to beat Kenya by four tries to one. They will count themselves as desperately unlucky to miss out on the Cup quarters.
Results/fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT + one hour)
Match 1: Samoa 42-5 Kenya
Match 2: Argentina 5-14 France
Match 9: Samoa 38-26 France
Match 10:
Argentina 26-14 Kenya
Match 17: Kenya 5-28 France
Match 20: Samoa 10-31 Argentina
Pool B
(New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Italy)
Second in the Series by just seven points, New Zealand opened up with a 49-5 win against Russia and followed up with an even more comfortable victory against Italy, Tim Mikkelson grabbing a hat trick and Zar Lawrence crossing for his 100th career try.
In the pool decider Gordon Tietjens' side were made to work hard by the injury-hit Boks - Frankie Horne and Mpho Mbiyozo are both out - but came through 24-17, captain DJ Forbes with two tries.
Earlier, South Africa took a while to break down Italy before eventually running out convincing winners, Ryno Benjamin adding three tries to his season tally. The Boks were then made work by Russia but won 19-7. Russia did finish with a win, though, against Italy.
Results/fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT +
one hour)
Match 3: New Zealand 57-0 Russia
Match 4: South Africa 49-5 Italy
Match 11: New Zealand 52-0 Italy
Match 12: South Africa 19-7 Russia
Match 18: Russia 24-12 Italy
Match 21: New Zealand 24-17 South Africa
Pool C
(Australia, England, Canada, Portugal)
Last weekend's London champions Australia were made to work hard by Canada, held to 0-0 at half time before running out 14-0 winners. They didn't have it all their own way against Portugal, but came through to win 35-21, Clinton Sills scoring twice.
England, whom Australia beat 38-5 in pool play last weekend, started with a hard-fought 17-5 win against Portugal but came unstuck against Canada, putting in a lacklustre performance and losing to Justin Mensah-Coker's winning try at the death after captain Phil Mack had again provided the spark for the Cannucks.
The Canadians could not follow up against Portugal, though, and lost 24-14, which meant that England could afford to lose to Australia by 20 points in the Pool decider and still reach the last eight.
Results/fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT + one hour)
Match 5: Australia 14-0 Canada
Match 6: England 17-5 Portugal
Match 13: Australia 35-21 Portugal
Match 14: England 19-26 Canada
Match 19: Canada 14-24 Portugal
Match 23: Australia 21-21 England
Pool D
(USA, Fiji, Wales, Scotland)
Scotland produced a brilliant display to thrill the crowd, first running out 31-14 winners against Fiji and then holding the composure to come from behind against the USA and run out 33-12 winners, Andrew Turnbull with two tries.
Currently joint-third in the Series alongside Australia, the Fijians came up against an outstanding performance by the hosts, for whom Mark Robertson and Andy Turnbull scored the pick of the tries.
The Fijians did improve, though, to beat Wales 26-7 and revive their chances of reaching the last eight. Earlier Wales had to come from two scores down to beat the USA in their first match.
Results/fixtures:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT + one hour)
Match 7: United States 10-19 Wales
Match 8: Fiji 14-31 Scotland
Match 15: United States 12-33 Scotland
Match 16: Fiji 26-7 Wales
Match 22: United States 12-24 Fiji
Match 24: Wales 21-33 Scotland
With thanks to the IRB
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