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Robin Heymann & Andy Lane at Twickenham

Australia claimed their first Cup win in eight years to win the London Sevens title. In an absorbing see-saw final, Michael O’Connor’s young team just edged South Africa 19-14 to take the major honours at Twickenham.

Samoa, knocked out in the semi-finals by the Boks, stretched their lead in the overall IRB Sevens World Series with just one leg remaining at Edinburgh next weekend.

New Zealand now find themselves seven points behind the Samoans and despite losing to the Pacific Islanders in the quarter-finals, took solace with a Plate win.

In front of almost 40,000 Australia shrugged of an early injury to in-form winger Clinton Sills to open the scoring in the final with a Brackin Karauria-Henry score. But veteran Fabian Juries turned back time with a superb chip-and-chase to bring the Boks level at the break.

Australia superb captain James Stannard pushed the Aussies ahead but the South Africans again replied through Juries, who showed a clean pair of heels to Taylor to give the Boks a 14-12 lead.

But Australia weren’t to be denied. Outstanding forward Henry Vanderglas’ lung bursting support paying dividends when he crossed following a driving run from Ed Stubbs to give Australia a 19-14 lead.

A sensational cover tackle by Stannard on Cecil Afrika snuffed out South African hopes and handed Australia a first title since Brisbane 2002.

Aussies and Boks prove too good

Australia strode past Argentina in the semi-finals to book their place in the day’s final with 26-14 win, with Clinton Sills impressing again with a brace. Argentina fought bravely with one try apiece from Bruzzone and Amelong but it wasn’t enough.

An upset in the second Cup semi final saw South Africa beat Samoa 24-12. Fa’osiliva scored two for the Samoans but veteran Fabian Juries ends any chance of a comeback with a great individual effort which clinched South Africa’s first Cup final since last year in Edinburgh.

Argentina recorded a fine 27-14 win over Wales in the quarter-finals. A tight contest between Australia and Fiji saw Australia through by 29 points to 28. Clinton Sills and Watisoni Votu scoring hat-tricks.

England, despite having home field advantage, couldn’t overturn South Africa in the third Cup quarter- final.

The Boks ran out 17-12 winners with a key try from M J Mentz after Ben Gollings was sin binned for persistent infringements. The final Cup quarter-final saw top placed Samoa beat New Zealand for the sixth time this season. A tight contest swung 19-10 to the Samoans with a yet another interception try from Pesamino.

Kiwis get valuable Plate points

Sherwin Stowers’ last gasp try was enough for New Zealand in the Plate final against Fiji winning 26-24.
Fiji hard earlier beaten Wales 22-10 to move into the Plate final, an admirable achievement for the weakened 10 man squad.

Apisai Naiyabo scored two tries with Wales' Lloyd Williams also getting a double. They were be joined by New Zealand who were too strong for England despite a brave effort. Wade, Powell and Gollings got on the scoresheet, but a last second Kurt Baker try proved the difference in the 19-22 result.

Canada leave it late in Bowl

Justin Mensah-Coker's late try saw Canada home again Portugal in another brilliant final at Twickenham. Nathan Hirayama and Sean Duke also crossed for the Canadians in the 19-14 win.

In the first Bowl semi-final, Portugal overturned Scotland 24-19 to claim a place in the final. The second semi-final proved a nail biter with the game going all the way to extra time. It finished 17-17 in regular time before Sean Duke broke to score under the posts to send Canada into the final.

Kenya only manage Shield

Kenya snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final of the Shield, with Dennis Mwanja’s try delighting the mass support for the Africans and sealing a 24-21 win.

 CLICK HERE for UR7s’ Live Text Commentary to see what happened at Twickenham.  

London Sevens Day 2 Results:

Bowl QF - Italy 41 Portugal 0

Bowl QF - Scotland 21 France 12

Bowl QF - Canada 21 Russia 12

Bowl QF - Kenya 10 USA 19

Cup QF - Argentina 27 Wales 14

Cup QF - Australia 29 Fiji 28

Cup QF - South Africa 17 England 12

Cup QF - New Zealand 10 Samoa 19

Shield SF - Italy 7 France 29

Shield SF - Russia 17 Kenya 21

Bowl SF - Portugal 24 Scotland 19

Bowl SF - Canada 22 USA 17 (ET)

Plate SF - Wales 10 Fiji 22

Plate SF - England 19 New Zealand 22

Cup SF - Argentina 14 Australia 26

Cup SF - South Africa 24  Samoa 12

Shield Final - France 21 Kenya 24

Bowl Final - Portugal 17 Canada 19

Plate Final - Fiji 24 New Zealand 26

Cup Final - Australia 19 South Africa 14