(Photo World Rugby)
Argentina have the chance to defend their Hong Kong title after reaching the semi-finals along with Spain, South Africa and New Zealand on a thrilling day two of the Hong Kong Sevens.
In front of over 40,000 fans – a new record for a Hong Kong Sevens single-day attendance – Los Pumas 7s saw off 24-17 to set up a last-four showdown with Spain, while South Africa will face New Zealand in the other semi-final.
Santiago Alvarez and Marcos Moneta both scored twice for Argentina and that was enough to see off a stellar Fiji side who crossed through Apete Narogo, Joseva Talacolo and Viwa Naduvalo but had Akuila Dranivotua sent off.
Moneta, whose second try clinched victory for Argentina, said: “It’s incredible – we love this tournament and we love this stadium.
“It’s always a pleasure to play against Fiji – the kings of the Sevens – and we have a really good relationship with them.
“They’re always good battles and I’m happy for the win of course. Now we most focus on Spain.”
Spain caused a huge stir by beating Australia 19-5 to clinch their first-ever place in a Hong Kong semi-final at a raucous Kai Tak Stadium
Los Leones Sevens ran out worthy victors after tries from Jeremy Trevithick, Tobias Sainz-Trapaga and Manu Moreno with Aden Ekanayake claiming Australia’s only score.
Spain star Pol Pla said: “Wow! It’s our first semi-final here in this city, in this stadium and with this atmosphere.
“It’s amazing, it’s a gift, but we’ve been training a lot to achieve this so it’s the result of all our hard work back home.
“It would be incredible to be in the final and a dream to do it fifty years on from the first tournament here in Hong Kong.”
Siviwe Soyizwapi broke Kenya’s hearts with a last-gasp try to hand South Africa a hugely dramatic 26-22 victory and seal their semi-final spot with New Zealand at a raucous Kai Tak Stadium
In a quarter-final for the ages, the Kenyans led 22-21 in the closing stages after scores from John Ohoth Okeyo, Denis Abukuse, Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa and Festus Shiasi Safari.
Kenya had only ever beaten their African rivals once in a quarter-final – and that was in Wellington way back in 2013.
Agonisingly, they could not keep out the Blitzboks at the death as Soyizwapi went over to win it from Tristan Leyds’ neat pass, adding to tries from Selvyn Davids, Donavan Don and Quewin Nortje.
Matchwinner Soyizwapi, who made his Blitzboks debut in Hong Kong a decade ago, said: “Today was all about character and coming back against a really strong Kenya side.
“I think the boys can be happy with that performance and New Zealand will be a really tough test in the semi-final.
“We’ll rest up now, recover and come up with a gameplan against them.”
New Zealand booked their semi-final spot with a 19-10 win over France.
Sam Clarke, Akuila Rokolisoa and Brady Rush scored their tries but the French pushed them hard after scores from Liam Delamare and Gregoire Arfeuil.
Roderick Solo of the All Blacks Sevens said: “To be honest, we had a rough game earlier today against Australia but felt as if we were tracking in the right way.
“I think the boys just had a shift in mindset after that game and it’s so pleasing to see us come away with the win.”
9TH PLACED SEMI-FINALS
Great Britain’s men followed the success of their women’s team by winning their 9th Place Semi-Final after defeating USA 17-12.
Their tries came from Finley Lloyd-Gilmour, Marcus Kershaw and Charlton Kerr while Ben Broselle, Marcus Tupuola went over for the Eagles.
Uruguay claimed a resounding 35-12 win over Germany in the second 9th Place Semi Final.
Ignacio Rodriguez, Pedro Hoblog (two), Tomas Etcheverry and Joaquin Suarez while Germany replied through Makonnen Amekuedi and Niklas Koch.
POOL A: Spain show their class
Spain flexed their muscles with a commanding 21-0 victory over Uruguay with tries from Josep Serres, Manu Moreno and Jeremy Trevithick.
South Africa turned on the style with a thumping 38-0 win against Argentina which harvested scores for Sebastiaan Jobb, Ryan Oosthuizen, Selvyn Davids, Tristan Leyds (two) and Shilton van Wyk.
POOL B: Fiji edge out France in thriller
France and Fiji were both guaranteed a quarter-final spot but faced off to decide who finished top of Pool B – and it was the latter who ran out victorious in a 26-24 success.
Fiji’s tries came from Nacani Boginisoko, Apete Narogo (two) and Viwa Naduvalo with Diego Miranda, Jordan Sepho, Ali Dabo and Simon Desert crossing the line for the French.
Tries from Makonnen Amekuedi and Niklas Koch saw Germany clinch a momentous 17-14 win over Great Britain, who touched down through Marcus Kershaw and Finley Lloyd-Gilmour.
Germany’s Felix Hufnagel could not hide his delight afterwards after kicking a dramatic matchwinning penalty, saying: “I practised so often and just tried to keep the same routine.
“I hoped for the best and was just lucky to get the ball through the posts.
“Being here in Hong Kong is amazing and such a step up in everything you could imagine.
“It’s been a brilliant experience and we hope to get more of it.”
POOL C: Aussies beat New Zealand to reach summit
Dietrich Roache’s matchwinning double wiped out Dylan Collier’s early try for New Zealand and handed Australia a 12-5 victory over their fierce rivals.
Tries from John Ohoth Okeyo, Denis Abukuse, Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa gave Kenya a 17-10 win over USA, whose scores came from Ben Broselle and Lucas Lacamp.
Maddison Levi makes history
Maddison Levi rewrote the history books as Australia clinched a semi-final with France – with New Zealand and Canada to meet in the other last-four showdown – on a rip-roaring day two of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Mercurial Aussies 7s star Levi scored in her side’s emphatic 45-5 quarter-final win over Fiji to overtake Portia Woodman-Wickliffe on the all-time try-scoring list and set a new record of 257 touchdowns.
Levi, 23, actually bagged a double to hit 258 tries and Tia Hinds also went over before Teagan Levi got in on the act with a double and Heidi Dennis scoring too.
Adi vani Buleki scored for Fiji but this was all about Australia and the record-breaking exploits of a delighted Maddison Levi.
She said modestly: “The main thing to celebrate is getting the win because we’re through to the semi-finals.
“It’s awesome to get these individual achievements but I have to thank the girls beside me and the goal for the weekend is to win gold in Hong Kong.”
New Zealand’s defence of their Hong Kong title is still on after they progressed to a semi-final against Canada with over 40,000 fans in attendance – a new record for Hong Kong sevens for a single day attendance.
The Black Ferns Sevens beat Spain 32-5 in the quarter-final to flash an ominous warning sign of their title pedigree.
Their tries came from Kelsey Teneti, Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane (two), Mahina Paul and Stacey Waaka with Spain replying through Carlota Caicoya.
Waaka called for improvements from her side in tomorrow’s semi-final against Canada, saying: “We need to be clinical in cutting out our errors.
“We’re giving away possession too much but if we focus on us then I think we’ll be sweet from there.”
France sealed their semi-final spot with a hard-earned 22-12 win over Japan.
Anne-Cecile Ciofani bagged a brace with Lilou Graciet and Kelly Arbey also on target and Honoka Tsutsumi and Himawari Matsuda scoring for Japan.
The first of the women’s quarter-final saw Canada edge out rivals USA 19-7.
Charity Williams scored twice and Savannah Bauder also touched down with Ariana Ramsey replying for the USA.
NINTH-PLACED SEMI-FINALS
Great South American rivals Argentina and Brazil faced off in the first 9th Place Semi-Final – and it was the Brazilians who edged a hugely entertaining encounter 19-17.
Sofia Gonzalez and María Paula Pedrozo scored for Argentina either side of a try for Brazil by Thalia Costa.
Costa then claimed her second and Leila Silva added a third before Gonzalez’ second ensured a tense finish.
In the second 9th Place Semi-Final, Great Britain claimed an eye-catching 19-14 win over South Africa.
Reneeqa Bonner (two) and Ellen Scantlebury claimed GB’s tries with Shanidine Bezuidenhout and Maria Tshiremba touching down for South Africa.
POOL A: Miller stars once again
Jorja Miller took her try tally to the weekend to six with a brace in New Zealand’s ruthless 38-0 win over Fiji.
The Fiji team wore black armbands as a mark of respect and remembrance to their nation’s former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau following his recent passing at the age of 84.
Although Miller claimed centre stage, Risi Pouri-Lane, Jaymie Kolose, Stacey Waaka and Maia Davis were also on target for the Black Ferns Sevens.
Try-scorer Kolose said: “We were really pleased with that performance because we know that every game is a final from here.
“We knew Fijiana were a physical team, so our role was to hit them hard and get them to ground. I think we did that well.”
Japan wowed the Hong Kong crowd with a stunning 34-7 win over Brazil to seal their quarter-final spot.
Chiaki Saegusa, Natsuki Ouchida, Honoka Tsutsumi, Mei Ohtani and Wakana Akita (two) scored their tries with Leila Silva touching down in reply.
A delighted Japan head coach Yuka Kanematsu said: “I’m really relieved to get the win and the support from the Japan fans here in Hong Kong is fantastic.
“We feel so many people cheering for us and I’m really happy about it.”
POOL B: Aussie 7s beat Canada in a thriller
Maria Tshiremba claimed centre stage with a brace and Lerato Makua also got on the scoresheet as South Africa won 19-5 against Great Britain, whose sole try came from the prolific Katie Shillaker.
There was a closer affair next up as Australia edged out Canada 19-17 in a thriller with Faith Nathan claiming a delightful brace and Teagan Levi on the scoresheet again.
Canada’s tries came from Charity Williams (two) and Florence Symonds.
POOL C: France flex their muscles
Spain edged out Argentina 17-12 in the opening game of day two.
Juana Stella, Carmen Miranda Miralles and Denisse Gortazar with Talia Rodich and Marianela Escalante scoring in reply for Argentina.
Another close-fought battle in Pool C saw France beat USA 19-14.
Lou Noel, Anaick Konyi and Cleo Hagel scored for the French with Kaylen Thomas and Kristie Kirshe touching down for the Americans.
