Results Day 2

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36 28-03-2009 18:56 South Africa 26 - 12 France HKG Pool A
35 28-03-2009 18:34 England 26 - 19 Wales HKG Pool B
34 28-03-2009 18:12 New Zealand 17 - 5 Australia HKG Pool C
33 28-03-2009 17:50 Argentina 22 - 14 Portugal HKG Pool D
32 28-03-2009 17:28 Fiji 12 - 12 Samoa HKG Pool E
31 28-03-2009 17:06 Kenya 19 - 12 USA HKG Pool F
30 28-03-2009 16:44 Uruguay 10 - 35 Korea HKG Pool A
29 28-03-2009 16:22 Japan 21 - 17 China HKG Pool B
28 28-03-2009 16:00 Zimbabwe 33 - 14 Sri Lanka HKG Pool C
27 28-03-2009 15:38 Tonga 12 - 14 Hong Kong HKG Pool D
26 28-03-2009 15:16 Canada 22 - 7 Chinese Taipei HKG Pool E
25 28-03-2009 14:54 Scotland 19 - 17 West Indies HKG Pool F
24 28-03-2009 14:32 South Africa 53 - 0 Uruguay HKG Pool A
23 28-03-2009 14:10 England 50 - 0 Japan HKG Pool B
22 28-03-2009 13:48 New Zealand 52 - 0 Zimbabwe HKG Pool C
21 28-03-2009 13:26 Argentina 22 - 17 Tonga HKG Pool D
20 28-03-2009 13:04 Fiji 26 - 17 Canada HKG Pool E
19 28-03-2009 12:42 Kenya 31 - 7 Scotland HKG Pool F
18 28-03-2009 12:20 France 24 - 5 Korea HKG Pool A
17 28-03-2009 11:58 Wales 19 - 17 China HKG Pool B
16 28-03-2009 11:36 Australia 56 - 12 Sri Lanka HKG Pool C
15 28-03-2009 11:14 Portugal 7 - 24 Hong Kong HKG Pool D
14 28-03-2009 10:52 Samoa 50 - 0 Chinese Taipei HKG Pool E
13 28-03-2009 10:30 USA 17 - 7 West Indies HKG Pool F

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Hong Kong Sevens quarter finals set
(IRB.COM) Saturday 28 March 2009

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Tim Mikkelson has been a key figure in New Zealand's impressive start to their Hong Kong title defenceAustralia and Fiji have qualified as the two best runners-up alongside pool winners South Africa, England, New Zealand, Argentina, Samoa and Kenya for the Cup quarter finals of the 2009 Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.


Cup quarter finals
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v Samoa
New Zealand v Kenya
Fiji v England

HONG KONG RESULTS & FIXTURES >>
HONG KONG POOLS >>

At the midway stage in the season South Africa and England lie in joint-top position on 60 points but with 30 on offer to the Cup winners in Hong Kong, the 24-team event could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the Series.

Pool A: South Africa scrape past France to top pool

South Africa twice battled from behind to beat France in the Pool A decider and qualify for the Cup quarter finals. Julien Patey put the French ahead in both halves but each time the Boks drew level through Robert Ebersohn and Vuyo Zangqa, before Ryno Benjamin and Zangqa put the tie beyond doubt.


Earlier captain Mzwandile Stick, Zangqa and Mpho Mbiyozo all scored twice as joint-Series leaders South Africa ran in nine unanswered tries to beat Uruguay 53-0. Robert Ebersohn, Kyle Brown and Neil Powell also registered tries for Paul Treu's men.


Jacques Boussuge scored two tries to help inspire France to their second victory, against Korea 24-5. Paul Albaladejo and Joffrey Michel also touched down for Thierry Janeczek's men, while Lee Jung-Min scored for Korea. The Koreans did round off their pool campaign with a 35-10 victory over Uruguay, though, Kim Sung-Soo scoring two of their five tries.

Day one: Kim Won-Yong brought one of the biggest cheers of day one by finishing off a fine sweeping move for the Koreans against South Africa. The two sides were locked at 7-7 after seven minutes with Philip Snyman's equaliser but the second half was more one-sided, the Boks scoring four more unanswered tries through Mbiyozo, Ebersohn, Benjamin and Brown. France also won their opening match against the battling Teros of Uruguay, 17-5, Joffrey Michel putting the French ahead early on and Santiago Gibernau levelling before Anthony Poujol's try put the French 12-5 ahead of the break and Michel's second on 10 minutes made the game safe.


Pool B: England deny Wales to reach last 8


Joint-Series leaders England sprinted to a 26-0 half time lead against World Champions Wales and then held on in the face of a fine fightback to take the tie 26-19 and top Pool B. Ollie Phillips, Kevin Barrett, Chris Cracknell and Isoa Damu all crossed for tries in the first half but England then had to defend with their lives as Arron Bramwell, Jimmy Norris and Ifan Evans pulled three back for the Welsh.


Earlier Rob Vickerman scored a hat trick as the English recorded a 50-0 win against Japan. Tom Varndell (2), Isoa Damu (2) and Ben Jones also touched down in a one-sided match.


Jevon Groves scored a last-minute winner to spare Wales' blushes against China as they won 19-17. Ifan Evans and Groves both scored in the first half but two tries by Li Yang left the match dead-locked at 12-12 at half time. Yang then scored a third and China looked on course for victory, when Groves broke clear to draw the scores level at 17-all and Dai Flannagan slotted the crucial conversion. In the pool's all-Asian clash Japan came from behind to beat China 21-17 in a fine exhibition of rugby.

Day one: England also topped 50 points on day one, beating China 54-0 with 19-year old Dan Caprice scoring a hat trick on debut and Josh Drauniniu and Kevin Barrett each crossing twice in the eight-try win. Wales also survived a potential banana skin against Japan first up, running out 14-5 winners with a much-changed team from their World Cup success. The Japanese scored first through Kilryong So but the Welsh struck either side of the half, first through Ifan Evans and then James Lewis.


Pool C: New Zealand and Australia through

Zar Lawrence scored two tries to inspire his teammates to an emotionally-charged 17-5 win in the pool decider against great rivals Australia, who also qualify for the Cup quarter finals as the second best runners-up. Australia scored first through Domonic Shipperley but Victor Vito struck to level at 5-5 at the break and Lawrence twice proved the difference in the second half to see the Kiwis home.

An extra poignancy and motivation will have been felt by all the New Zealanders in support of Lawrence, whose brother Wiremu tragically died in a car accident overnight. Lawrence also played a typically whole-hearted role in setting up a number of tries in their 52-0 win against Zimbabwe, in which Tim Mikkelson, Victor Vito, Ben Souness and Julian Savea all scored two tries. The New Zealand vice captain is to stay with the team here, return to New Zealand for his brother's funeral and rejoin the squad to compete in Adelaide next weekend.

Sri Lanka earlier put up a brave resistance but went down to impressive Australia 56-12. Damon Murphy, Henry Vanderglas and leading Series scorer Luke Morahan all crossed for two tries and there were also Wallaby scores for Richard Kingi and Will Brock. For Sri Lanka Radhika Hettiarachi scored twice. Zimbabwe won a first victory in the pool's penultimate tie, beating Sri Lanka 33-14.

Day one: Lote Raikabula scored three tries and Victor Vito two as New Zealand outclassed Sri Lanka in the wet of Hong Kong on day one, scoring nine unanswered tries to win their opening game 59-0. Australia were impressive in defying the crowd and Zimbabwe to win 33-5. Luke Morahan scored twice and there were further scores for Will Brock, Damon Murphy and newcomer Domonic Shipperley. Zimbabwe's consolation try at the death came from Daniel Hondo.


Pool D: Classy Pumas unbeaten

World Cup finalists Argentina held on in the face of a fine Portuguese comeback to win 22-14 and proceed unbeaten to the Cup quarter finals as pool toppers. Martin Miguel Nunez Lasalle scored two tries and Hernan Olivari one to put the Pumas 15-0 up at the break but Joao Mirra and Frederico Oliveira pulled Portugal back to within a point, before Lucio Lopez Fleming crossed late on.

Earlier Benjamin Urdapilleta scored an injury time try to clinch a 22-17 victory for Argentina against Tonga in one of the matches of the tournament. Tonga hit back late on through Sosaia Palei and Peasipa Moimoi scored a tricky conversion to level the scores, but Martin Bustos Moyano's jinking run set up the winner for the Pumas.


Home team Hong Kong produced a fine display on day two to win two pool games on home soil for the first time since 2000. First they condemned Portugal to a second defeat, 24-7, Pannell, Haynes, McQueen and Robertson all scoring, and then they edged Tonga in a thriller 14-12, Kenzo Pannell converting both tries by Rowan Varty and Anthony Haynes.

Day one: USA Sevens winners winners Argentina were clinical in seeing off Hong Kong 28-0 in their Pool D opener, Mariano Dobal grabbing a brace of tries. In the group's other opening encounter Tonga triumphed against Portugal 17-5 and look serious challengers to the Pumas. Some of the Portuguese players were clearly feeling the effects of their one-point Rugby World Cup qualifying victory against Romania in Bucharest last weekend, but Tonga were worthy winners. David Mateus cancelled out Peasipa Moimoi's early score but further tries by Vaea T Poteki and Sosaia Palei saw the islanders through.


Pool E: Samoa and Fiji qualify


Six-man Samoa held on in the dying moments under huge pressure from island rivals Fiji to draw 12-12 and top Pool E on points difference. The Samoans led 12-7 at the break after Jerry Meafou and Uale Mai scored either side of Pio Tuwai's try, but Vereniki Goneva pulled the scores level in the second half and Meafou's sin-binning forced Samoa to hold on for two minutes a man down. Fiji also qualify for the Cup quarter finals as best runners-up after pool play.

Samoa kick-started their progress on day two in emphatic fashion, beating Chinese Taipei 50-0. Timoteo Iosua scored a hat trick of tries, Rupena Levasa and Alafoti Fa'osiliva each grabbed a brace and Afioa'e Maiava rounded off the half century.

Fiji overcame Canada 26-17 in one of the matches of the tournament so far. The Fijians led 14-12 at the break after Phil Mack and DTH van der Merwe cancelled out tries by Seremaia Burotu and Pio Tuwai. Vereniki Gonewa put the islanders further ahead but van der Merwe scored again to close the gap to four points before Tuwai's second put the game beyond doubt and set up a decider between the two island giants. Canada, meanwhile, recovered to win their remaining pool match 22-7 against Chinese Taipei.


Day one: On day one former World Champions Fiji were held initially by Chinese Taipei but broke loose after five minutes to score their first try and went on to win 33-0, Pio Tuwai scoring two of their five tries. Samoa also got off to a winning start, although they were made to work far harder by Canada, coming from behind to win 14-10. Canada captain Phil Mack scored either side of the half to edge ahead of Fa'osiliva's try but Lolo Lui struck late in the second half for Rudi Moors' men.


Pool F: Unbeaten Kenya top group

Kenya beat the USA 19-12 to top Pool F and qualify for the Cup quarter finals. Benjamin Ayimba's side out-scored the Americans three tries to two, Collins Injera, Benedict Nyambu and Sidney Ashioya each touching down to better Mark Bokhoven's brace for the Eagles. The two sides had both won their first matches on day two, the Eagles hardly convincing in seeing off the West Indies, scoring three tries by Bokhoven, Hawkins and Palamo to the Windies' one from Joshua Clark.

Kenya were far more sure-footed against Scotland. They led 17-0 at the break after two tries by Collins Injera a one by Innocent Simiyu and Lavin Asego and Sidney Ashioya put the result beyond doubt before Scott Riddell crossed for a late consolation. The Scots did win their final pool game, though, against Joe Whipple's much-improved West Indies side 19-17.


Day one: The West Indies adjusted far better to the conditions early on in the opening match of the tournament against Kenya and almost pulled off an upset in Pool F. They led 5-0 at the break through Claudius Butts' try but the Kenyans replied with three tries by Injera, Kayange and Asego before Tom Healy's late consolation to make the final score 17-10. The other match in the pool was closer still, Scotland edging USA 19-17. New American captain Kevin Swiryn scored twice for his side and Jone Naciqa also touched down but former Wales rugby league international Hefin O'Hare was the inspiration for the Scots, scoring two tries and setting one up for Roddy Grant.

Day two reaction:

DJ Forbes, New Zealand captain

"It's the start of the second half of the World Series, so something to really look forward to. I guess for us, we're not trying to defend the (Hong Kong) title, we're in the same position as everyone else and we just want to go out there and win it.

"The boys are wearing armbands and that's for Zar's (Lawrence) little brother, who passed away, and so there are a lot of things to play for, not just the rugby but we've got a lot of personal issues off the field that we really want to fire up for and it's a way of showing how close we are as a family, doing things for the boys and obviously to Zar.

"He had the option of going home and he'll still be home for the funeral but he's doing his bit here to show his family that he's still strong and he's going to be there for us."


Mark Wright, Hong Kong captain

On winning two pool matches for the first time since 200, including versus Tonga

"The crowd really got behind us and we really needed it, any time anyone made a break or put in a tackle the crowd erupted and it was goosepimples, great to play in.

"To think that Tonga beat us by 50 points a year or two ago, the boys have worked really hard and we've got some quick boys, some steppers and we're just starting to come together as a good team."

Joe Whipple, West Indies coach

"This is the first time I've ever come to a tournament where I've scouted the other sides, normally we're just so worried about how we're going to play and now we can move to another level. Are we there? Absolutely not, we've got to win games, we've got to finish and win.

"I'm disappointed that we lost, against Kenya I thought we had a shot, against the States I thought we had a shot and clearly against Scotland we did (19-17) and made a couple of little errors.

"That's where we've got to grow. Somebody asked me what, realistically, are your chances and I said, 'I'm not realistic, this isn't a tournament that I want to be realistic at'. I think we put a lot of effort in, we've got a good group of guys.

"We've been at it for about three years now and I think it takes you about that time. We've played maybe eight tournaments and I've swapped in 45 to 50 players so we've gone through a lot of guys to hone it down, we've also had better preparation, we were able to go to Punta del Este, which was great for us, we had a very feisty trial and you can see that we're aggressive."

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