A popular win – Kenya wins Singapore Sevens
Kenya played all over Fiji and won their first-ever Cup title in an exciting Singapore Sevens of drama and upsets.
Despite being held to a draw by Scotland and losing to South Africa in the Pool games, they squeaked through to the Cup finals, and knocked over France in the quarters, beat Argentina in a tight semi-final, and whacked Fiji in the final to win the Cup.
Some of the top four Sevens nations lost a Pool game also. New Zealand got smashed by France 0-24, Australia lost to Argentina 7-12, and Fiji went down 14-28 to Samoa.
Con Foley – one of best Aussies in Singapore Sevens 2016
The Aussies
Coach Andy Friend rested skipper Ed Jenkins and Cameron Clark again; so it was going to be a battle with injured Rio certainties Lewis Holland, Pama Fou and Henry Hutchison not available either. Mind you, other countries had their own challenges.
At least it gave Friend a further opportunity to try fringe Olympic players under pressure.
Pool games
Argentina – Australia had all kinds of opportunities, and enough penalties awarded to them. They were 7-5 ahead with 2½ minutes to go, and near their opponent’s goal-line, when a Holmes’ pass was batted down and Argentina scored at the other end. Allan Fa’alava’au launched a raid from Aussie territory at the death, but was brought down five metres out. Game over: Argentina 12-7.
Japan – They were lucky to win their next match as Japan, no doubt distraught about the loss of life from the Kyushu earthquakes, played a brave game. Although Japan were denied a score that looked legit on the half-time buzzer and were down 7-12 at the break, they tied the game with four minutes left. Then Myers scored a signature runaway try to clinch the match for the Aussies 17-12.
Wales – Australia had to win their third match to make the Cup quarter-finals. The scores were tied up with two minutes left in the first half when Foley took the ball on his own 22 and saw nothing but grass in front of him and scored. Then Porch smoked Wales for another try on the gong for the Aussies to lead 21-7 at half-time. The teams scored a try each in the second half but the Aussies weren’t stretched to win 31-12.
Fiji v Australia – too much power in second half
The Aussie finals
In the quarter-final the Fijians scored early from their own 22 when a tackle was missed. Then things looked ominous when the Fijian men were swatting the Aussie boys off like flies; but then Chucky Stannard got involved. He helped Fa’alava’au to set up Figg to score and then intercepted a pass and hared off to score himself for the Tornadoes to lead 14-5 at the break.
But what we thought would happen, did. Australia couldn’t deal with a counter-ruck by Fiji, who scored, and then they dropped the restart kick and the Islanders were in again.
The final score was Fiji 19 – Australia 14, and then the Aussies were whacked by the Kiwis in the Plate semis 31 – 7; five tries to one.
Kurt Baker scored in the quarter-final but the Blitzbokke won
Other finals
In the other quarter-finals the Blitzbokke beat the Kiwis 12-7, Argentina beat Samoa also 12-7, and Kenya had a comfortable win 28-7 over France.
The score was tied in the Plate final when a Kiwi threw the ball infield before it went out, but it went right into the mitts of Mealoi who scored for Samoa to win 26-21.
The Cup semi-finals
The semis were two of the best matches of the tournament.
Fiji v South Africa was absorbing. The score was tied 14-14 at half-time but Senatla dotted down after the break and Fiji couldn’t make inroads until Kolinisau chipped riskily and scored late, under the crossbar – 21-21.
There were four seconds left when Fiji kicked off. It was disaster for the Blitzbokke because they slapped the restart ball forward into Fijian hands and the Islanders won 26-21.
Kenya v Argentina – Kenya was flat and hardly fired a shot in the first half as Argentina had most of the ball and led 7-0 at half-time from Luna scooting from the blind side of a ruck.
After the interval the teams returned serve with tries.
With the score at 12-12 and the gong due to be sounded Kenya got a penalty 40 metres out and on the 15-metre (lineout) line. Ingera elected to kick a penalty goal and it never looked like missing; Kenya won 15-12 and were through to the final against Fiji.
Willy Ambaka passes the ball in final
Final
Kenya got a perfect start and scored from the kick-off ruck, and went in again soon after as a lackadaisical Fiji couldn’t get out of their half. Fiji were down 10-0 after four minutes and were still trying to get the ball in Kenya territory as the Africans nabbed two more tries before the break.
It looked like Fiji was playing rope-a-dope.
But at least Kenya hadn’t nailed a conversion; so they led “only” 20-0 at oranges—and they play ten-minute halves in a final. That’s an age for Fiji.
Three minutes after interval Fiji started to do their offload and support game attracting defenders like moths and they connected the dots for Tuwai to score between the sticks – 20-7.
Nelson Oyoo – on his way to scoring the killer try for Kenya
The ball was mostly in the Kenya half now and a comeback looked on the cards—but Oyoo got the ball 15 metres out from his own line in the middle of the park and ran around Fiji to score in the corner.
Once more there was no conversion but when Kenya kicked off they were ahead 25-7. With only two minutes left now the game was all over, but Fiji stuffed up catching the kick-off and Kenya went in again anyway !!
Final score: Kenya 30 – Fiji 7.
It was a comprehensive win for Kenya as Fiji ran out of rugby miracles.
James Stannard – a good effort in Singapore
The Wrap-up
It was a well-deserved win by Kenya after a ropey first day, and a popular one with the crowd.
South Africa were the best of the other teams winning the 3rd place game, and their only blemish being a last-minute loss to Fiji in the semis. The Kiwis continued to stutter in a hot and cold way that was below their old standards.
The Aussies played below the level of their recent form and looked more like the team that started the season , before their rise in Round 4 in Sydney.
Even taking into account that they were missing players, especially game-breakers, they should have done better. Their restarts were below par, they bunched up on the field too much on defence, and were counter-rucked too easily by rugged opponents.
However James Stannard and Con Foley should be satisfied with their efforts on the weekend.
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