Zimbabwe’s Cheetahs picked up a consolation win in the HSBC World Sevens rugby series in Dubai on Friday after beating Kenya 21-5.
They will now play in the bowls on Saturday. Tries from Jacques Leitao, Wesley Mbanje and Manasah Sita saw the Cheetahs finish third in Pool C after suffering two humiliating defeats against England and France.
Defending Dubai Sevens champions England began the defence of their campaign by beating Zimbabwe 43-0 thanks to two Dan Norton tries, taking his career tally to 51, and one for debutant Christian Lewis-Pratt, before Mat Turner struck twice in their 19-12 victory against Kenya.
France, who reached last weekend’s Cup quarter-finals also got off to a positive start, beating Kenya 27-5 thanks to two tries from Renaud Delmas before a 26-0 victory over Zimbabwe.
Pool A – FIJ, SAM, ARG, UAE Aminiasi Nava Kuruinovo helped Fiji make it two wins from two as his two tries assisted in a 43-0 victory over hosts UAE.
The Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch winners got their campaign off to a flying start earlier, beating Los Pumas 40-7 thanks to 26 second-half points and two tries from Joeli Lutumailag.
2009/10 Series champions Samoa defeated the hosts 55-12 on the 40th anniversary of the UAE.
Tom Iosefo, Paul Perez and Faalemiga Selesele all scored twice but Emad Reyal received the biggest cheer as he scored both of UAE’s tries.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
In their second match Samoa came from 21-7 behind to lead 28-21 with seconds to go, but Nicolas Fernandez Lobbe’s men clinched a dramatic draw thanks to a late try from Agustin Migliore and decisive Gonzalo Gutierrez Taboada conversion.
Manuel Montero scored a hat-trick for Los Pumas in their 73-7 victory against UAE.
Pool B – NZL, RSA, USA, POR Defending Series champions New Zealand got off to a strong start, beating USA 40-0. Tomasi Cama and Frank Halai scored twice, and there were a further four different scorers for Gordon Tietjens’ side.
Halai scored a further two tries in their second pool match, a 31-7 victory against Portugal.
Last year Portugal stunned England on day one but lost to South Africa in their first match at 7he Sevens this year.
Bernado Botha, captain Kyle Brown and William Small-Smith scored for Paul Treu’s side before Frederico Oliveira added a consolation try for Portugal.
Six different players then scored for South Africa as they defeated the USA 36-7, ensuring Al Caravelli’s side are still yet to record a victory over Treu’s side in the history of the World Series.
In the penultimate Pool B match, Portugal ensured they finished third heading into the Bowl competition after a 12-10 victory against USA, with Aderito Esteves and Duarte Moreira crossing.
Pool D – WAL, AUS, SCO, CAN Wales became the first side to win their opening two pool matches on day one after a narrow 15-12 victory against Geraint John’s Canada thanks to Ifan Evans’ 50th career try.
The reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens champions had earlier got off to a winning start as Tom Prydie and Will Price’s late effort helped Paul John’s side to a 14-7 victory after Andrew Turnbull had scored the first try of the tournament.
Lewis Holland crossed for a hat-trick in Australia’s first match as they defeated Pan American Games champions Canada 40-7 before they came from 7-0 behind to beat Scotland 24-12.
Scotland then overturned 7-0 and 14-12 deficits themselves to beat Canada 19-14 and finish third in the pool as Turbull scored a hat-trick in the match to take his career try tally to 100.
