SYDNEY SEVENS: Big guns ease through
Series leaders South Africa dispatched Japan32-9 and fellow Pool A favourites England edged Kenya 19-12.
Fiji was also far too string for Pacific rivals Samoa, winning 40-0 in a one-sided game, while Pool B rivals Wales edged France 14-12 in a tense affair.
New Zealand downed hosts Australia 26-14 in the key Pool C encounter, while Scotland was too good for Papua New Guinea – winning 26-12.
The United States upset Argentina 22-19 in a Pool D encounter, with Canada edging Russia 12-7.
We look at all the early pool action!
Pool A
(South Africa, England, Kenya, Japan)
In the opening pool match Kenya hung on for more than five minutes in the face of relentless English pressure, before Charlie Hayter was yellow carded for a deliberate slap-down – allowing Eden Agero to go over for the opening score and a 7-0 half-time lead to the African team.
Early in the second half England were caught short on numbers down the left touchline and Billy Odhiambo used his pace to expose them and score Kenya's second try. Richard de Carpentier then scored two quick tries, as England levelled it up at 12-all. Ruaridh McConnochie scored the winner for England with just 30 seconds left on the clock – 19-12.
South Africa opened the scoring in the second pool match, against Japan, as Werner Kok used his speed to outflank the cover defence from a 22-metre restart. Record-breaking flyer Seabelo Senatla got the second for the BlotzBoks from a kick-and-chase, with Senatla getting a third (his second) as the current World Series leaders took a commanding 15-0 lead into the half-time break.
Senatla completed his hat-trick early in the second half, after picking up a stray Japan pass, with Albertus Smith and Siviwe Soyizwapi sealing a 32-0 rout.
Results:
England 19-12 Kenya
South Africa 32-9 Japan
Pool B
(Fiji, France, Wales, Samoa)
It was a tight affair in the opening half between France and Wales, with Stephen Parez eventually breaking the deadlock a minute from half-time, before Wales hit back through Sam Cross to take a 7-5 lead into the break.
It was more of the same in the second half, with four minutes having passed before Jeremy Aicardi put France back in the lead – 12-7. However, the French made a couple of silly errors, allowing Ethan Davis to produce the match winner – 14-12.
In the all Pacific Island battle Fiji, with a patient build-up that saw them going backwards for almost two minutes, exploded into action and created the space on the left for Joeli Lutumailagi to open the scoring. Lutumailagi then got a second, as Fiji continued to deny Samoa possession, Jasa Veremalua getting the third and Jerry Tuwai the fourth as Fiji took a 26-0 lead into the break.
The Fijian dominance continued after the break – Osea Kolinisau getting their fifth try and Emosi Mulevoro the sixth to complete a 40-0 rout.
Results:
France 12-14 Wales
Fiji 40-0 Samoa
Pool C
(Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea)
In the all-Australasian affair, Vilimoni Koroi got New Zealand on the board first, after a tense start. Tim Mikkelson stretched the lead from an Australian mistake at the restart, before a penalty try to Australia saw the gap close to 7-14 and resulted in the Kiwis reduced to just six players as a result of a cynical foul. Henry Hutchinson then got the Aussies on level terms just before the half-time hooter – 14-all at the break.
An intercept by Sherwin Stowers saw the Kiwis regain the lead while still a man down, with the Aussie errors starting to mount. Rocky Khan took the lead to beyond a single score, as the Kiwis started to dominate the collisions and breakdown areas. It was enough to secure the win (26-14) for New Zealand.
Mark Robertson opened the scoring for Scotland inside 45 seconds against Papua New Guinea, with the Pacific Islanders hitting straight back from the restart – Gairo Kapana getting the try. George Horne then got Scotland back in front, making it 12-5 at the break.
Papa New Guinea levelled the scoring through Emmanuel Guise, before Nyle Godsmark reclaimed the lead with a powerful surge. Sam Beattie sealed a 26-12 win with the Scots' fourth try.
Results:
New Zealand 26-14 Australia
Scotland 26-12 Papua New Guinea
Pool D
(Canada, Argentina, United States, Russia)
In the opening match of the day Stephen Tomasin and Danny Barrett scored early tries as the United States raced into a 12-0 lead against Argentina, who eventually got back through German Schultz to narrow the gap to 7-12 at half-time.
Madison Hughes stretched the lead back to 17-7 when he ghosted through a gap, before Barrett scored a second as the US raced further ahead (22-7). Matias Ocsaduk and Renzo Barbier got consolation scores, but the South Americans ran out of time – 22-19 to the Yanks.
In the second match Dmitry Sukhin opened the scoring for Russia through a patient build-up, before John Moonlight got the Canadians on the scoreboard. Justin Douglas then outsprinted the cover defence to give Canada the lead, 12-7, at half-time.
The Russians dominated possession and territory in the second half, but a string of errors kept them scoreless and allowed the Canadians to hang on for the win.
Results:
Argentina 19-22 United States
Canada 12-7 Russia
Source: @WorldRugby7s
