Sydney Sevens: It's Aussies v Kiwis in Final
The Aussies outthought and outmuscled a South African team that could not get their speedsters into space. Despite a late charge by the BlitzBoks, coming from 0-12 at half-time, the Aussies hung on for a 12-7 win.
They will face a New Zealand that edge Fiji 14-12 in an equally thrilling – albeit more brutal – semifinal.
Kenya scored the comeback of the weekend, coming from 0-21 to score four second-half tries for 24-21 win and a place in the Plate Final. Kenya will meet Argentina in the Plate Final, after the South Americans beat England 19-14.
Canada will face Samoa in the Bowl Final, while Wales and Russian will meet in the Shield Final.
* For the quarterfinal report, CLICK HERE!
Cup semifinals
New Zealand 14-12 Fiji
The opening exchanged between the Pacific arch-rivals were fierce and furious, with the referee having his hands full to keep the emotions under control.
Ben Lam got the first points, from a quick-tap penalty after a messy scrum. The contest remained physical, at times brutal, with the referee doing his best to keep a lid on the emotions. The scored remained 7-0 in favour of the Kiwis till half-time.
Akira Ioane used his pace and a great fend to stretch New Zealand's lead with a try that had its origins inside the New Zealand 22-metre area. Fiji now attempted to get their passing/stepping game going, avoid contact unlike their approach in the first half, with Isake Katonibau getting the Pacific Islanders on the board. Vatemo Ravouvou got Fiji without two points with another try through great skills, but in their desperation to get the lead they conceded a penalty inside the New Zealand 22 – leaving the Kiwis with a 14-12 win.
Australia 12-7 South Africa
Australia scored first, a quick tap from a breakdown penalty, the try going to Lewis Holland. The South Africans did not help themselves with a host of handling errors, while they constantly found themselves on the wrong side of the referee's rulings at the breakdown.
On the stroke of half-time James Stannard pounced on a loose ball at the tackle and stretched the Aussies' led to 12-0 at the break.
Albertus Smith gave South Africa the perfect start to the second half, scoring a sublime individual effort from over 50 metres out. Australia employed a kicking game, driving the BlitzBoks back into their own half and forcing them to play from deep. And the South Africans continued to make silly errors, gifting possession back to the Aussies – Smith going from hero to villain, being sin-binned for a high tackle.
It was another penalty at the breakdown that ended the match, as the BlitzBoks desperately searched for a late winner – the Aussies holding on.
Plate semifinals
United States 21-24 Kenya
It was Carlin Isles' superior pace that saw the American flyer score an 80-metre try to open his team's account, following some early Kenyan pressure. For his second try Isles sprinted just 10 metres with the ball, after a great team build-up that took them deep into the Kenyan 22. The Yanks, now in complete control, Benjamin Pinkleman sprint over – making it 21-0 at the break.
Kenya had to score early in the second half and Oscar Ayodi was the man who got them back into the game inside two minutes of the restart. When Billy Odhiambo went over from the restart, the Africans were well-and-truly back in the contest. Andrew Amonde continued the comeback, two missed conversions leaving the score at 21-17. A forward pass, not picked up by the match officials, allowed Bush Mwale go over to put Kenya in front – gifting the Kenyans a 24-21 win.
England 14-19 Argentina
Franco Sabato ran a sublime angle to score the opening try for Argentina, with Fernando Luna getting the second for the South Americans. Argentina had thought they had scored a third try, but a penalty, a hack ahead and the pace of Tom Mitchell saw the teams head into the break level at 14-all.
Argentina opened the second-half scoring through a team try, going to the name of German Schultz – which turned out to be the match-winner.
Bowl semifinals
Portugal 10-14 Samoa
A double fend from Aderito Esteves gives Portugal hope after Samoa had started this Bowl semifinal with tries from Gregory Foe and Tila Mealoi. It could have been ever better for Portugal, but a great tackle from Mealoi forced Tiago Fernandes into touch in goal with time up in the first half. Captain Pedro Leal did cut the deficit to four points with a try, but they couldn't find another score and it's Samoa who advance to the Bowl Final.
Canada 35-12 Scotland
Canada dominated from the start and opened the scoring with two tries from Nathan Hirayama and another from Harry Jones, before Scotland's Jamie Farndale just manages to get the ball down in time with the clock in the red to see the first half end with the score at 21-5. Harry Jones completed his hat-trick with a second-half double to ensure Canada will face Samoa in the Bowl Final later.
Shield semifinals
Japan 17-24 Russia
It looked like Russia would take a lead into half-time after tries from German Davydov and Vladislav Lazarenko, but up popped Japan captain Lomano Lemeki to put the Asian champions ahead for the first time on the stroke of half-time. After Vadimir Ostroushko and Kosuke Hashino exchanged second-half tries, Davydov scored the match-winner with just over a minute remaining on the clock. Japan will rue a couple of errors when a winning score looked on the cards.
Wales 22-5 France
Steeve Barry gave France the start they were looking for but it's Wales who hit the front before just half-time after tries from Sam Cross and Jordan Williams, as the French appeared to be running out of gas. What France would have given to have their playmaker Terry Bouhraoua fit and able to play in Sydney. Without him they just had no answer to Wales, who will play Russia in the Shield Final after further tries from Ethan Davies and Ben Roach.
