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Sunday 1 April 2007
Samoa claim Hong Kong glory
Samoa produced a first half display of power, pace and precision to blow away their island rivals Fiji and set up a fine 27-22 victory at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.
Fiji fought back amazingly in the second half to score 22 unanswered points but the deficit proved too big and Samoa held on for a first Hong Kong title since 1993, six years before the inception of the IRB Sevens World Series.
The Samoans also claim US$100,000 and 30 series points to go joint second in the series standings with New Zealand on 78 points, only six points behind defending Series champions Fiji on 84. South Africa are fourth with 74.
Mikaele Pesamino again proved a match winner for Samoa, scoring a first half hat trick as the Fijians were run ragged for 10 minutes to trail 27-0 at the break, Uale Mai and Jerry Meafou also touching down.
Where they had mis-fired in the first half, the Fijians hit back with a vengance in the second. Ryder, Cakau, Vucago and Saravanua all scored and with the clock ticking down a final chance to level the scores out wide went begging as they cut back in to the Samoan defence.
Fiji earlier beat New Zealand to reach the final, Waisale Serevi scoring the clincher, before Samoa punished South African profligacy with a determined display to reach the final, Treviranus scoring the only try.
Earlier England's five year grip on the Hong Kong crown spanning back to April 2001 was finally prised open by New Zealand. Forwards Dave Seymour and Ben Russell led the fight alongside proud skipper Simon Amor but four tries - for Hunt, Pelenise, Yates and King - brought England's reign in Hong Kong to an end.
A fine performance by Scotland also forced the very best from Fiji, William Ryder scoring a hat trick in their 28-7 quarter final win.
In the other half of the draw two tries for Lolo Lui inspired Samoa to a hard-fought 26-17 win over much-improved Australia, for whom Tim Wright scored the pick of three tries.
South Africa were then taken to the wire by Tonga in the last Cup quarter final. Leading 7-0 at the break, the Boks conceded a try early in the second period before asserting their authority with tries from Basson and Mbiyozo.
Digicel Fiji 7s squad for Hong Kong:
Emosi Vucago (Nadroga), Epeli Dranivasa (Namosi), Etonia Naba (Nadroga), Lepani Nabuliwaqa (Suva), Semisi Serevi (Naitasiri), Mosese Volavola (Nadroga), Nasoni Roko (Naitasiri), Semisi Naevo (NEC, Japan), Setefano Cakau (Namosi), Simione Saravanua (NZ), Waisale Serevi (Suva), William Ryder (Bua)
Pool A
Fiji 45 Sri Lanka 0, Scotland 31 Portugal 7, Scotland 53 Sri Lanka 21, Fiji 28 Portugal 7, Portugal 47 Sri Lanka 7, Fiji 26 Scotland 0
Pool B
South Africa 59 Chinese Taipei 0, Wales 7 Tonga 33, Wales 61 Chinese Taipei 0, South Africa 31 Tonga 12, Tonga 49 Chinese Taipei 17, South Africa 31 Wales 0
Pool C
Samoa 49 China 5, Canada 26 Japan 5, Canada 19 China 21, Samoa 54 Japan 7, Japan 40 China 12, Samoa 41 Canada 0
Pool D
New Zealand 41 Italy 5, Kenya 14 Russia 10, Kenya 5 Italy 19, New Zealand 54 Russia 0, Russia 17 Italy 12, New Zealand 50 Kenya 14
Pool E
England 38 Hong Kong 7, Argentina 24 Korea 14, Argentina 19 Hong Kong 12, England 38 Korea 14, Korea 12 Hong Kong 19, England 19 Argentina 14
Pool F
France 5 USA 14, Australia 19 Tunisia 12, Australia 15 USA 14, France 12 Tunisia 21, Tunisia 5 USA 14, France 14 Australia 28
BOWL
Quarter-finals
Japan 45 Chinese Taipei 0, France 36 China 7, Russia 19 Korea 10, Sri Lanka 14 Kenya 26
Semi-finals
Japan 7 France 24, Russia 38 Kenya 7,
Final
France 7 Russia 21
PLATE
Quarter-finals
USA 19 Hong Kong 12, Wales 20 Italy 7, Canada 21 Portugal 22, Tunisia 19 Argentina 22
Semi-finals
USA 19 Wales 22, Portugal 10 Argentina 12
Final
Wales 26 Argentina 19
CUP
Quarter-finals
Fiji 28 Scotland 7, England 0 New Zealand 26, Samoa 26 Australia 17, Tonga 7 South Africa 19
Semi-finals
Fiji 21 New Zealand 12, Samoa 10 South Africa 0
Final
Fiji 22 Samoa 27
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TEIVOVO.COM – INTERNATIONAL 7s
