Fiji win Edinburgh Sevens crown

(IRB.COM) Sunday 31 May 2009

Print
Email






http://www.irb.com/mm/Photo/Tourname..._SQ_MEDIUM.jpg Fiji captain Emosi Vucago scored their first try in the Cup final against South Africa

The day after clinching their first IRB Sevens World Series title at Murrayfield, South Africa were pipped to the Edinburgh title by Fiji in another superb Cup final, 20-19.

Fiji's victory at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens takes them above England into second place in the final World Series standings, but a full 30 points behind South Africa.
Paul Treu's side finish the season with 132 points, ahead of Fiji (102), England (98), New Zealand (88), Argentina (68) and Kenya (64).
The finals in the lesser trophies produced three 'local' derbies of huge intensity, and ensured that the four competitions went to different continents. The USA beat arch-rivals to the Shield, England edged past six-man France to take the Bowl and New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia in the Plate.
- MURRAYFIELD RESULTS >>

Fiji take Edinburgh Cup

In a breathless final Emosi Vucago put the Fijians ahead but Ryno Benjamin's converted score edged the Boks ahead 7-5. Pio Tuwai and Osea Kolinisau, though, put the islanders well ahead at the break, 15-7.
In the second half Vereniki Goneva looked to have put the game beyond doubt as Fiji dominated for large periods but Gio Aplon scored and then, at 20-12 down, Renfred Dazel broke free in midfield and raced away to score another. Vuyo Zangqa slotted the conversion to cut the deficit to one point but Fiji held on at the death.

Semi final 1: South Africa needed sudden death extra time and Gio Aplon's breakaway try to beat a superb Scottish performance 26-21 and reach the final. Mzwandile Stick held his nerve to convert Ryno Benjamin's try to fight back and level at the death after the Scots built a lead through Sean Lamont's brace and Greig Laidlaw's score. Vuyo Zangqa and Renfred Dazel initially brought the new World Series champions back into the game.
Earlier the Springbok Seven came through a closely contested tussle with Australia 17-7 with tries from Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne and Zangqa.
Hosts Scotland had won a heart-stopper against Samoa to reach their second ever semi final. The islanders led 12-0 at the break after tries by Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Uale Mai but the Scots stormed back through John Houston's brace and Colin Gregor landed a tough conversion to win.
Semi final 2: In the other side of the draw Fiji beat World Cup-winners Wales 28-14 to reach the final against the Boks. Waqa Kotobolavu scored the first try for Fiji and although James Merriman pulled it level Nasoni Roko sprinted clear for a 14-7 half time lead. Kolinisau and Borotu notched two more to put the result beyond doubt, before Tal Selley scored his 60th try for Wales to become his country's leading point-scorer, overtaking Emyr Lewis' long-standing record.
The Welsh had earlier produced a stunning display to beat Kenya 19-7. Rhys Jones scored twice and Tom Isaacs once, while Kenya had their chances but could only manage one try through Biko Adema.
Fiji turned around their 33-14 loss against New Zealand in London to beat the same opposition 26-19 in the fourth quarter final in one of the matches of the tournament. Pio Tuwai struck first for Fiji but Save Tokula pulled the game level and Tomasi Cama's conversion edged the kiwis ahead, only for the Fijians to mount a length of the field assault with captain Vereniki Goneva scoring for a 10-7 half time lead. Tuwai scored again straight after the break and then Nasoni Roko put on a skills masterclass to create a superb fourth for Seremaia Burotu for a 26-7 lead. Kurt Baker pulled one back for New Zealand and with a minute remaining Solomon King scored another but the kiwi comeback ran out of time.

New Zealand win trans-Tasman Plate
New Zealand finished their season on a positive note under coach Gordon Tietjens by beating trans-Tasman rivals 34-12 to take the Plate, and eight points towards the World Series.
Twice the Aussies led in the first half through Willie Bishop and Dominic Shipperley but on both occasions the kiwis hit back through Willie Rickards and Tim Nanai-Williams to trail just 10-12 at the break. The second half was all about New Zealand, though, Nanai-Williams notching his second and third either side of fine tries for Julian Savea and Chad Tuoro.
England claim Bowl against France

A tired looking England edged past six-man France 26-15 to claim the Bowl and two points for the season.
Paul Dabrin raced away to put the French into an early lead and Uche Oduoza hit back, only for Michel Joffrey to put France back into the lead in a fine contest.
Marc Andreu was red-carded for head-butting Micky Young on the stroke of half time, giving England a one-man advantage for seven minutes, which they struggled to capitalise on. James Rodwell's try put them ahead, only for France captain Julien Patey to pull his side back ahead before giant wing Uche Oduoza scored again for Ben Ryan's side, and then set up Ollie Phillips to seal the win.
USA beat Canada to Shield

USA avenged their Sheild final defeat at the hands of Canada in London last weekend by beating their staunch North American rivals 12-10 to take the Edinburgh Shield.
Justin Mensah-Coker and Colin Brown scored for the Canadians, but Tai Enosa's converted try in additon to Marco Barnard's score proved the difference.