Fiji won a tense final against South Africa 26-24 to claim their first Hong Kong Sevens title in 10 years yesterday.
The Fijians turned on the style in a flamboyant first half before clinging on as South Africa agonizingly put a last-gasp conversion wide.
Fiji took the last of 10 previous Hong Kong titles in 1999 and also lifted the 2005 World Cup, while three-time finalists South Africa are still searching for their first win.
PHOTO: AP
Coach Iliesa Tanivula brought a new-look squad to Hong Kong, axing his overseas-based stars who crashed out in this month’s World Cup quarter-finals.
“Back home we were written off by our fans but it worked in our favor,” Tanivula said. “There were no expectations. It gave us motivation to do better. Fijians around the world didn’t give us a chance, but all credit to the boys, I take my hat off to them.”
Two tries from Emosi Vucago and another from Osea Kolinisau put Fiji 19-0 up before South Africa’s Renfred Dazel and Robert Ebersohn pulled it back to 19-12 at half-time.
PHOTO: AFP
Seremaia Burotu skipped past three tackles to score early in the second half, but indiscipline nearly cost Fiji dearly as both Nasoni Roko and Vereniki Goneva were sin-binned.
South Africa scored through Vuyo Zangqa and then Lionel Mapoe after the hooter to give them a chance to force extra time. But captain Mzwandile Stick pushed the vital conversion attempt right.
“We lost the game in the first half. Too many missed tackles and against a team like Fiji, that’s going to cost you,” South Africa coach Paul Treu said. “I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t stick to our plan because the tournament was there for the taking.”
PHOTO: AP
With the win, Fiji go third in the Sevens World Series standings behind South Africa and England, with three tournaments to go.
Fiji also stunned England 10-7 with a late try in the quarter-finals and convincingly beat Kenya 24-7 in the semis.
“I’m utterly disappointed,” England coach Ben Ryan said. “Sevens is like that — it’s on the turn of a coin, a change of advantage. One decision and the game changes.”
South Africa downed Australia in the quarter-finals before beating Samoa 29-3 in the last four.
But defending champions New Zealand were left waiting for their first title of the season after being shocked 10-7 by Kenya in the quarter-finals.
In the second-tier Plate final, Tonga landed a conversion after the hooter to beat Canada 14-12, while Portugal downed Uruguay by the same score for the Bowl trophy.
The Hong Kong Sevens began in 1976 and has become a mainstay of expatriate life in the former British colony.
Marloon Herrera was crying — happy tears. With Cuba trailing in the fifth inning of its Little League World Series (LLWS) opener on Thursday, Herrera lined a two-run double to give his team the lead. When the Czech Republic, representing Europe-Africa, made a pitching change, he ran over to give his third base coach a hug. Cuba went on to win 4-1. It was the first game at this year’s tournament for both sides, but it was also the beginning of Cuba’s second appearance in the series ever — and it was emotional. “You breathe baseball in Cuba,” manager Everaldo Machado said on
Taiwan on Friday beat Australia 11-0 at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Taiwan are represented at the tournament by Taoyuan’s Gueishan Elementary School, who won the Asia-Pacific regional tournament to earn the trip to the US. Australia are represented by the Hills Red team from Sydney. Taiwan advanced to a game tomorrow against Santa Clara, representing Cuba, who won 4-1 against the Czech Republic’s Brno, the Europe-Africa regional qualifiers. Australian starter Sayre Howick had a tough time controlling his pitches at Volunteer Stadium, one of which allowed Taiwan to open their account. They scored six in the inning and
World Boxing, an international amateur boxing organization formed last year after a breakdown in relations between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA), has announced the admission of Taiwan, along with four other nations, into its growing list of members. In a statement released on its Web site on Friday, the Swiss- based organization said that in addition to Taiwan, admitted as Chinese Taipei, Bhutan, Ecuador, Fiji and Pakistan have also become members. The new members all have well-rounded national and international boxing programs as well as transparency in the leadership and management of their national boxing programs,
COOLED DOWN: Du Plessis apologized after the fight for comments about his Nigerian-born opponent, after Adesanya said he planned to take the belt back to Africa South African Dricus du Plessis yesterday took a flurry of body hits across four rounds before defeating Israel Adesanya by submission to retain his middleweight championship at UFC 305. After scoring some early takedowns, Du Plessis (22-2) had to withstand a flurry of body strikes from Adesanya through the middle rounds, which appeared to be taking a toll on the 30-year-old South African as the fight progressed. However, a left hook followed by three rights helped bring Adesanya down, giving Du Plessis the opening he wanted as he swiftly got the choke hold that forced the Nigerian-born New Zealander to tap out