IRB Sevens: Hong Kong, Day One
Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:06
Top seeds New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Samoa all came through the potentially tricky challenge of Day One at Hong Kong - Round Five in the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series - on Friday. A crowd of over 29,000 also watched a fascinating evening's session, which produced wins for all four of the Six Nations sides playing - France impressive in seeing off Tonga and England's young side delighting the crowd by coming from behind to beat Canada. With all of the top sides winning their opening games, it was obvious they were intent on scoring as many points as possible to secure a favourable quarterfinal draw at the end of Day Two. However, none of the so-called minnows of Asia were humiliated. Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Japan and Korea were particularly impressive, all proving a handful for their more seasoned opponents and all crossing for
tries.
Follow all the action here!
Day One - Friday, 28 March:
Pool A
(New Zealand, USA, Tunisia, Chinese Taipei)
Two tries each by Tomasi Cama and Steven Yates inspired runaway series leaders New Zealand to a 50-5 win against Waisale Serevi's Chinese Taipei side. The Kiwis were dominant in recording their 37th consecutive victory, although the loudest cheer went to the Wu Wei-Luan's solitary try at the death for the Taiwanese.
Results:
Match 6: New Zealand 50 Chinese Taipei 5
Match 12: USA 26 Tunisia 21
Pool B
(Samoa, England, Canada, Sri Lanka)
Defending Hong Kong champions Samoa built on a solid 21-0 half-time lead to beat battling Sri Lanka 35-7, Alafoti Fa'osiliva scoring a hat-trick. England's young side then produced a confident performance, coming from behind to beat Canada with Chris Mayor scoring two tries.
Results:
Match 5: Samoa 35 Sri Lanka 7
Match 11: England 24 Canada 12
Pool C
(South Africa, Argentina, Russia, Japan)
Mpho Mbiyozo and Fabian Juries each grabbed a brace as South Africa saw off the challenge of pacy Japan 40-7. Puma captain Santiago Gomez Cora then scored two tries to inspire the Argentinians to a 33-0 win against Russia, in doing so taking his personal try tally to 183, the leading mark in the history of Sevens.
Results:
Match 4: South Africa 40 Japan 7
Match 10: Argentina 26 Russia 0
Pool D
(Fiji, Wales, Zimbabwe, Korea)
Yang Young-Hun scored a stunning try for Korea to give them an early lead against Fiji, but the islanders hit back with six unanswered tries to win 42-7, William Ryder back on the Hong Kong score sheet and looking in ominous early form. Wales were then quick out of the blocks against Zimbabwe, captain Jonathan Edwards touching down either side of the break in their comfortable 34-0 win.
Results:
Match 3: Fiji 42 Korea 7
Match 9: Wales 34 Zimbabwe 0
Pool E
(Kenya, Scotland, Portugal, China)
Twenty-two points from returning playmaker Lavin Asego helped Kenya to an impressive opening win over China, 47-0, to get their challenge off to the best possible start in this tough pool. Scotland also remain on course for a 10th successive Cup quarter final after they saw off gutsy Portugal 26-10.
Results:
Match 2: Kenya 47 China 0
Match 8: Scotland 26 Portugal 10
Pool F
(Australia, Tonga, France, Hong Kong)
Australia overcame a lively performance by the home side Hong Kong to win 24-12 in the opening match of the day. Hong Kong could well have led at the break but squandered opportunities and two tries by Peter Owens helped the Wallabies to victory. In the other match in the pool France overcame the odds to beat Tonga 21-7.
Results:
Match 1: Australia 24 Hong Kong 12
Match 7: Tonga 7 France 21
Day Two - Saturday, 29 March:
(Kick-off is local time - GMT +8)
Match 13: Tonga v Hong Kong, 10.30
Match 14: Scotland v China, 10.52
Match 15: Wales v Korea, 11.14
Match 16: Argentina v Japan, 11.36
Match 17: England v Sri Lanka, 11.58
Match 18: USA v Chinese Taipei, 12.20
Match 19: Australia v France, 12.42
Match 20: Kenya v Portugal, 13.04
Match 21: Fiji v Zimbabwe, 13.26
Match 22: South Africa v Russia, 13.48
Match 23: Samoa v Canada, 14.10
Match 24: New Zealand v Tunisia, 14.32
Match 25: France v Hong Kong, 14.54
Match 26: Portugal v China, 15.16
Match 27: Zimbabwe v Korea, 15.38
Match 28: Russia v Japan, 16.00
Match 29: Canada v Sri Lanka, 16.22
Match 30: Tunisia v Chinese, 16.44
Match 31: Australia v Tonga, 17.06
Match 32: Kenya v Scotland, 17.28
Match 33: Fiji v Wales, 17.50
Match 34: South Africa v Argentina, 18.12
Match 35: Samoa v England, 18.34
Match 36: New Zealand v USA, 18.56
Day Three - Sunday, 30 March:
Match 37: Bowl quarterfinal, 09.45
Match 38: Bowl quarterfinal, 10.07
Match 39: Bowl quarterfinal, 10.29
Match 40: Bowl quarterfinal, 10.51
Match 41: Plate quarterfinal, 11.13
Match 42: Plate quarterfinal, 11.35
Match 43: Plate quarterfinal, 11.57
Match 44: Plate quarterfinal, 12.19
Match 45: Cup quarterfinal, 12.41
Match 46: Cup quarterfinal, 13.03
Match 47: Cup quarterfinal, 13.25
Match 48: Cup quarterfinal, 13.47
Match 49: Bowl semifinal,
14.48
Match 50: Bowl semifinal, 15.10
Match 51: Plate semifinal, 15.32
Match 52: Plate semifinal, 15.54
Match 53: Cup semifinal, 16.16
Match 54: Cup semifinal, 16.38
Match 55: Bowl Final, 17.25
Match 56: Plate Final, 17.52
Match 57: Cup Final, 18.20
With thanks to the IRB
