NZ cement top spot in George

New Zealand celebrate another win in George

New Zealand continued their perfect start to the 2007/2008 International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series when they defeated Fiji 34-7 in a one-sided Cup Final in Round Two in George on Saturday.

They have now gone 24 games unbeaten on the IRB circuit and have won back-to-back titles in George for the first time.

The win puts the Kiwis eight points clear at the top of the IRB Sevens standings with a full-house of 40, followed by Fiji - who have finished runners up in both legs.

Just like last week in Dubai the Kiwis simply had too much class and despite a minor hiccup against England in the pool stages on Friday - when they required an injury-time score to win - never looked in trouble.

Hosts South Africa, who have lost at the semi-final stage in Dubai and George, moved into third place with 24 points - while Argentina also went past England and are fourth on 20 points. England, who narrowly lost to Wales in the Bowl Final, have now shifted down to fifth.

Kenya, who beat the United States 15-14 an exciting Plate Final, now find themselves in sixth position on the overall standings with 12 points.

They are followed by Samoa (10), Scotland (8), the US (6), Australia (2) and Wales (2).

All the play-off reports follow below!

Day Two:

Bowl quarter-finals:

Joe Simpson opened the scoring for England inside the first minute, after the English secured a turnover ball deep inside their own territory. England looked to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the Cup competition as Matt Banahan and Ben Foden scored further first-half tries to make it 21-0 at the break. After the break Foden and Simpson added further tries, before Neil Meechan got a consolation score right at the death - giving England a 35-5 win.

In the encounter between Australia and Uganda the first score also came after an early turnover, with Damon Murphy scoring for Australia after just 90 seconds - in which Uganda controlled the ball. Murphy and Patrick McCutcheon scored further tries against a lacklustre Ugandan side to take a 19-0 lead into the break. Murphy completed his hat-trick inside the first minute of the second half and then added a fourth two minutes from time. Alifeleti Mafi completed the scoring for the Aussies and Brian Kikawa got a consolation score as Australia won 34-7.

James Lewis scored the first try inside 40 seconds, as Wales took and early lead against a Tunisian side struggling with the initial Welsh onslaught. Sabri Guemir showed how dangerous the African side can be with the ball in hand as he went over for a great individual score. Lewis got a second for his team and Dafydd Hewitt as the Welsh took a 19-5 lead into the break. Lewis completed his hat-trick in just 26 seconds of the second half. The Welsh got another score - before Haithem Chelli, Mohamed Zied Hlaili and Amor Mazgar scored late tries for Tunisia. But it was all too little, too late as Wales won 31-24.

The French needed just 20 seconds to open the scoring against Zimbabwe, with quick hands sending Eddy Labarthe over. Loic Mazieres scored the second try with just two minutes on the clock and it looked ominous for the Africans. But a score by Cleopas Makatose, as the Zimbabweans broke out from deep, brought them back into the game. Labarthe put his team back in control with his second try on the stroke of half-time. Emeric Chretien virtually put the matter beyond doubt for France when he scored inside the first minute of the second half. However, Tangai Nemadire and Roland Benade brought Zimbabwe back with two tries. But the French held on for a 24-19 win.

Results:

Match 25: England 35-5 Canada

Match 26: Australia 34-7 Uganda

Match 27: Wales 31-24 Tunisia

Match 28: France 24-19 Zimbabwe

Cup quarter-finals:

The Americans had an early opportunity for a break-out try, but New Zealand opened the scoring when Lote Raikabula used his greater strength and speed to go over after three minutes. The United States players tried in vain to get the ball out wide to speedster Takudzwa Ngwenya, but poor hands gave the Kiwis another chance and Victor Vito scored the second try - as the Kiwis took a 10-0 lead into the break. Vito scored his second, and New Zealand's third, two minutes after the break and the result looked a forgone conclusion. The Eagles tries gamely, but a turnover gave James Kamana the Kiwis' fourth try. Zar Lawrence and Solomon King completed the 36-0 rout.

An error by Argentina gifted Samoa their first try, with Alapasa Cordtz going over inside two minutes. Santiago Gomez Cora brought the Pumas straight back when he won a footrace against the Samoans, after the ball was hacked through, to open the scoring for his team. Alafoti Fa'osiliva scored another soft touch-down for the Samoans, following a basic error at a five-metre line-out. But Santiago Gomez Cora scored virtually from the restart, following a break-out and a kick ahead to make it 12-all at the half-time break. Nicolas Bruzzone put Argentina into the lead for the first time after the break, when he went on the blindside from a scrum and beat the cover defence. Andres Romagnoli then landed a penalty, a rare occurrence in Sevens, to give the Pumas a 10-point lead. Fa'osiliva scored a consolation try for Samoa, but Argentina advanced with a 22-19 victory.

South Africa opened the scoring inside the first minute, with Schalk van der Merwe punching a whole in midfield to go over. An intercept by Ruaridh Jackson gave Scotland a try against the run of play, but they were taking them anyway they could against a very physical South African team. Richard Vernon put Scotland into the lead when they broke out from inside their own 22 as the Springbok defenders hung back and allowed them too much space. That gave the Scottish team a 12-7 lead at the break. Fabian Juries got the South Africans straight back into the game inside the first minute after the break when he used his greater speed to outrun the defence and the conversion saw them take a 14-12 lead. But Jackson put the Scottish team back in the lead with another break-out try from inside his own 22. There was plenty of drama to come yet, as a host of errors seemed to hand the win to the Scottish team. But Vuyo Zangqa managed to sneak over for the winning try after the hooter for full-time had sounded - 21-17 to the Boks.

Crowd favourites Kenya managed to keep the Fijians scoreless for almost three minutes, before Emosi Vucago stepped through a couple of tackles for the first try. However, the Kenyans showed they too have plenty of pace when Innocent Simiyu handed off an opponent and sprinted round the outside to level the scores. Fiji were soon back in the lead when Neumi Nanuku went over in the corner with some sublime acceleration - making it 12-7 to the Pacific Islanders at the break. And Nanuku put his team in pole position when scored midway through the second half - kicking ahead and following up to touch down. Ratu Akuila Nawerecagi scored next as the Fijians took an insurmountable 24-7 lead. Humphrey Kayange got a late consolation score as Fiji won 24-12.

Results:

Match 29: New Zealand 36-0 USA

Match 30: Samoa 19-22 Argentina

Match 31: South Africa 21-17 Scotland - 12.26

Match 32: Fiji 24-12 Kenya

Shield semi-finals:

Canada cruised into the Shield Final following an emphatic 31-5 victory over Uganda on Saturday. Four elementary first-half tries from Adam Kleeberger, Sean Michael Stephen, Dean van Camp and Philip Mack created a healthy platform for the North Americans and Uganda, who struggled to execute tackles effectively paid the ultimate price for poor defence. Canada were far more astute on the defence and managed to hold off a valiant second-half onslaught from the Ugandans.

Zimbabwe suffered a critical blow in the first half of their physical semi-final clash with Tunisia when they lost Roland Benade. But speedster Wensley Mbanje scored two very attractive tries to help guide his team to the Shield Final. Zimbabwe, who were just a tad too strong for their fellow Africans, won the match 21-17.

Results:

Match 33: Canada 31-5 Uganda

Match 34: Tunisia 17-21 Zimbabwe

Bowl semi-finals:

Australia were on the back foot almost immediately in their Bowl semi-final, conceding three very simple tries against England in the first half of their clash. An Anthony Elliott yellow card gave Australia a numerical advantage, which Damon Murphy exploited when he scored for Australia. Patrick McCutcheon brought the men from down-under within just five points of England directly after half-time. But two late tries from Ben Foden and Simon Hunt sealed a Bowl Final spot for England.

Three first-half tries from Wales should have secured a Bowl Final, but a determined French fight-back leveled the scores with just one minute to play. Wales, after controlling the game for 12 minutes, were suddenly under pressure at the hooter. The thrilling match went into extra-time with the score at 17-all. Wales scored first in extra-time and advanced to the Bowl Final, where they will play England.

Results:

Match 35: England 29-14 Australia

Match 36: Wales 22-17 France

Plate semi-finals:

The USA recorded a historic 24-19 Plate semi-final win over Samoa to advance to the Final on Saturday. Samoa drew first blood, but seemed to lose control, as the Eagles scored consecutive tries to eliminate the islanders from the tournament. Two late tries from Alafoti Fa'osiliva, who scored a brace in the match, and Uale Mai were just not enough for the Samoans.

In one of the more evenly contested matches of the tournament Scotland capitalised on their numerical advantage to score second-half tries against Kenya in their Plate semi-final and until the very last minute it looked like Scotland would play the USA in the Final. But it wasn't to be, as some severe pressure just five meters outside the Scotland try-line proved just too much for the Europeans, who went down 15-17.

Results:

Match 37: USA 24-19 Samoa

Match 38: Scotland 15-17 Kenya

Cup semi-finals:

New Zealand simply had too much class for a game Argentina and ran out comfortable 38-14 winners against the ultimately outclassed Pumas. The Kiwis outscored the South Americans by six tries to two to make a clear statement of intent and remain on course for a second successive title in the current series. The ultimate clincher for the Kiwis was a hat-trick by Zar Lawrence. James Kamana, Steven Yates and Victor Vito also crossed the try-line.

The Cup semi-final between South Africa and Fiji certainly lived up to expectations, as both teams defended vigorously and displayed some quality rugby from the outset. It was Fabian Juries who once again showed what a skillful player he was when he made a sterling break before creating MJ Mentz' first try of the George tournament. Iliesa Ratuva got Fiji back into the match shortly afterwards, setting the scene for a remarkable showdown. The Cheetahs' Kabamba Floors put the Boks back in the lead straight after the break. But Akuila Nawerecagi drew even for Fiji and a missed conversion for South Africa proved to be the telling factor, as Fiji converted to take the lead. Tomasi Mawi scored the final Fijian try to secure a 21-12 victory for the islanders.

Results:

Match 39: New Zealand 38-14 Argentina

Match 40: South Africa 12-21 Fiji

Shield Final:

Canada were very organised in the first-half of their Shield Final against Zimbabwe, scoring four early tries. Philip Mack opened the Canadian account and the star of the show Adam Kleeberger scored a hat-trick to spear-head a 26-0 half-time lead. The writing really was on the wall for Zimbabwe, who had nothing to play for but pride in the second stanza. The biggest problem for Zimbabwe was that they just didn't find any real rhythm at any stage in the match. Tangai Nemadire scored a late second-half try, but Mack responded with his second try of the match to hit the final nail in the Zimbabwean coffin. Alex Ndangana added the consolation for Zimbabwe in what was a disappointing Final.

Result:

Match 41: Canada 31-14 Zimbabwe

Bowl Final:

Wales showed tremendous fight to defeat England 21-19 in the Bowl Final of the George Sevens tournament. England, who led for most of the game, just didn't have enough steam to hold off a determined Welsh team.

Result:

Match 42: England 19-21 Wales

Plate Final:

Kenya overcame the odds to beat the USA 15-14 in a very tight Plate Final at the George Sevens. A brace from Dennis Mwanja sealed an unlikely victory for the African outfit that has won the hearts of the rugby fraternity over the past two weeks of IRB Sevens. The USA looked to be in control when Nese Malifa scored their second try to take his team to 14-10. But the Kenyans had fought too hard to let the opportunity to get some silverware in the 2007/08 IRB Sevens World Series slip by. It was a proud moment indeed for the minnows.

Result:

Match 43: USA 14-15 Kenya

Cup Final:

There was a considerable amount of expectation ahead of the Cup Final in the George Sevens and New Zealand couldn't have asked for a better start, with four early tries.

It was fast beginning to look like the defending champions would walk over Fiji. The pressure began to take its tole and the errors began to creep in. Emosi Vucago was yellow carded and one couldn't help but feel that Fiji would be at the receiving end of an absolute drubbing. Fiji were courageous in the second-half, but not even the Neumi Nanuku try could lift their spirits.

Victor Vito got the defending champions off to the ideal start when he scored a brace of tries in the first ten minutes of the match. Tries by Lote Raikabula and DJ Forbes secured a 24 point cushion for New Zealand at half-time.

James Kamana and the prolific Israel Dagg, who scored with his first touch of the ball, added the finishing touches to what was a very clinical performance from the New Zealand outfit.

It certainly was an ordinary performance from the islanders, who now remain in second position on the overall IRB World Sevens Series standings with 32 points.

Result:

Match 44: New Zealand 34-7 Fiji