Samoa claim a Sevens hat-trick

Published on Sunday 28 March 2010 23:42

SAMOA beat New Zealand 24-21 in the Cup final at the Hong Kong Sevens to claim the outright lead in the IRB Seven Series with a third consecutive victory.

New Zealand, who had earlier disposed of South Africa and Fiji in the knockout stage, quickly established a 14-0 lead at Hong Kong Stadium with a brace from centre Kurt Baker. But a double from Simaika Mikaele either side of yellow cards for Baker and Uala Mai helped Samoa to trim the deficit to 14-12 at half-time. Mikaele Pesamino scored twice in the second half for a dominant Samoa before replacement Toby Arnold grabbed a late consolation for New Zealand.

Samoa now have a three-point lead in the series with two events remaining in London and Edinburgh, with Murrayfield Stadium hosting the series climax on 29 and 30 May.

"It is an indescribable feeling to win three in a row. It is a different feeling," said Samoa coach Steven Betham. "I am not making any prediction for the series overall but we will give it a go."

Hosts Hong Kong delighted the capacity crowd in the Shield final with a 19-17 victory over Russia.

Keith Robertson, Anthony Haynes and Rowan Varty ensured Dai Rees' side held off a second-half fightback to pick up a first piece of Sevens silverware since 2001. Australia bounced back from their Cup quarter-final defeat to England to win the Plate with a hard-fought 12-5 win over South Africa. Canada claimed the Bowl with a dominant 35-19 win over Wales, who knocked out Scotland in the semi-finals 26-10.

The Scots had edged Japan by 12-10 in their first match of the knock-out stages, having gone out of the main competition following defeats by France (7-12) and New Zealand (5-22) and a victory over Chinese Taipei (42-5)

Lee Jones scored a little over a minute into the first half against Japan, and Mike Adamson converted. Jones' try was cancelled out just before the break as Masahiro Tsuiki crossed for an unconverted score, but Grant Anderson replied two minutes into the second period. Japan scored a second try through Kenji Shomen, but he failed with the conversion to hand Scotland the win.

Against Wales, Scotland were a score behind after 39 seconds when Aaron Bramwell touched down then converted his own try. Alex Cuthbert then scored Wales' second try before Scotland's Lee Jones crossed, Adamson converting to make it 12-7 at half-time.

In the second half the Scots soon found themselves a man down as Michael Fedo was shown a yellow card for illegally clearing a man out at a ruck. A man down, Scotland couldn't hold Wales out and they eventually scored through Rhys Webb. Bramwell converted. As the legs tired, Wales crossed the line for another converted score.

Scotland coach Stephen Gemmell said: "We were disappointed with the last game because we attacked hard and caused Wales some real problems. But they got their tails up when we went a man down. It's hard to defend against a team like that with six men at this level."

Scotland (v Japan): John Dalziel (Melrose), Michael Fedo (Watsonians), Stuart McInally (Watsonians), Mike Adamson, Grant Anderson (Ayr), Lee Jones (Selkirk), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh). Substitutes: Lewis Calder (London Scottish) for Fedo, Ross Curle (Ayr) for Anderson.

Scotland (v Wales): Dalziel, Fedo, Struan Dewar (Heriot's), Adamson, Anderson, Jones, Turnbull. Substitutes: Ross Curle (Ayr) for Anderson, McInally for Dewar, Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks) for Adamson.