London Sevens: Canada upset Fiji
The Canadians beat Fiji 22-19 after John Moonlight's last-gasp winner, while New Zealand, who are in the same Pool, got their campaign off to a winning start as well with a comfortable victory over Japan.
World Series champions South Africa and Wales recorded wins over Kenya and the USA in Pool A. In Pool D, Australia and England also got their London Sevens campaigns off to winning starts.
Pool A:
(South Africa, USA, Wales, Kenya)
Wales produced a powerful performance in their opening game to beat the USA 28-12.
After an action-packed first half, Wales had a slender 14-12 lead. Both teams scored two tries in that opening seven minutes. However, Wales' accurate kicking ensured that they had a two-point lead.
The USA struggled to break down the Welsh defence in the second half and in the end, it proved costly with Wales scoring another two converted tries for an impressive win in the end.
The BlitzBoks also got their London Stevens campaign off to winning start with a narrow 12-10 win over Kenya.
After a tough opening few minutes, Kenya took the lead before Ruhan Nel brought his team level at 5-5 just before the half-time break.
The BlitzBoks then took the lead in the 11th minute when Rosko Specman scored a converted try.
Kenya did have the final say in terms of scoring when they scored another try as well. However, a crucial missed conversion meant that the BlitzBoks walked away with the win.
Results:
USA 12-28 Wales
South Africa 12-10 Kenya
Pool B:
(Scotland, France, Argentina, Russia)
France were put to the sword in their opening match against Argentina.
The French started well scoring the opening try after two minutes. However, their lead was short-lived when the Argentinians hit back with two tries of their own to go into the break leading 14 -7.
It was all one-way traffic in the second half with Argentina scoring another three converted tries for a 35-7 win.
Meanwhile, Scotland did enough in their match against Russia for a 21-7 win.
There was only one try in the first half with Scotland going into the break 7-0 ahead.
However, the Russians levelled the scores with a converted try of their own early in the second half.
Scotland then lifted the intensity and they scored another two answered tries to secure the win in the end.
Results:
France 7-35 Argentina
Scotland 21-7 Russia
Pool C:
(New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, Japan)
Fiji were the favourites in their opening match against Canada and they opened the scoring after three minutes for a 5-0 lead.
Fiji increased their lead a few minutes later before Justin Douglas got a converted try back just before half-time for a 12-7 scoreline in Fiji's favour.
The scores were then level a few minutes after half-time when John Moonlight went over for a try.
Fiji regained the lead with their third try before Canada hit back again with a try as well. However, Canada scored a last-gasp winner courtesy of Moonlight’s 100th Sevens Series try.
In Pool C's other match, New Zealand made light work of Japan.
The Kiwi's raced to 19-0 lead after three well-worked tries.
Japan were the first to score in the second half to reduce the lead to 12 points. However, New Zealand turned on the gas in the final few minutes of the match to win 33-7.
Results:
Fiji 19-22 Canada
New Zealand 33-7 Japan
Pool D:
(England, Samoa, Australia, Spain)
James Stannard was the star of the show in Australia's big win over Samoa.
Whizzkid Lachie Anderson got Australia's weekend up and running against the Samoans with a try before Stannard scored two tries of his own on either side of John Porch's score.
At half-time, Australia had a commanding 22-0 lead.
Australia scored another two tries in the second half to just the one from Samoa for a 34-5 win.
England virtually put the game to bed in the first half in their 28-7 win against Spain.
Dan Bibby opened the account for Simon Amor's men before Charlie Hayter sent a beauty of a pass to Ruaridh McConnochie who danced his way over for England's second.
Then on the stroke of half-time, Oliver Lindsay-Hague took the ball in two hands and used Dan Norton as a decoy to skip over for try number three.
Phil Burgess scored England's fourth try in the second half before Spain got a consolation via Igor Genua.
Results:
Australia 34-5 Samoa
England 28-7 Spain
Upcoming Fixtures:
(All times are local. GMT plus one)
Saturday, May 20:
Fiji v Japan – 12.36
New Zealand v Canada – 12.58
France v Russia – 13.20
Scotland v Argentina – 13.42
United States v Kenya – 14.04
South Africa v Wales – 14.26
Samoa v Spain – 14.48
England v Australia – 15.10
Canada v Japan – 15.42
New Zealand v Fiji – 16.04
Argentina v Russia – 16.26
Scotland v France – 16.48
Wales v Kenya – 17.10
South Africa v United States – 17.32
Australia v Spain – 17.54
England v Samoa – 18.16
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