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Samurai International overcame invited team Esher at the inaugural National Sevens Series’ first leg at London’s RugbyRocks .

Late scores from the Player of the Tournament, Simon Hunt, saw Samurai recover from being 7-24 down to clinch a thrilling finale at a buzzing Richmond Athletic Ground.

Esher, who were one of three invited teams joining the nine National Series core sides, knocked out the British Army in the first semi-final, in a remarkable second-half turnaround.

A striking feature from the day’s action was the huge competiveness between the sides which is set to continue at the remaining West Country, Manchester, and Newquay events.

Olorun ID made up from a disappointing loss to Esher in the group stages to win the first-ever National Series Plate against the Irish Raiders.

Cup final – Esher v Samurai

Esher made the stronger start with the powerful Mark Odejobi's hand-off giving them an early lead with the recently promoted English Championship side always looking threatening on the counter-attack. Jonny Hylton then pounced on some loose ball to cut Samurai open, with Ross Fowle attacking a vacant blind side to give Samurai a 17-0 lead.

Back came the determined Samurai with the Premiership’s Oriol Ripol scything through to cut the deficit. Mark Bright’s powerful surge set-up Gavin Dacey soon after and Samurai had pulled it back to 12-17. Samurai’s aggression up front was a constant feature of the first half and a dominant scrum put Esher under pressure, but the lively Neville Edwards retrieved a loose ball to canter in to give Esher a 24-12 half-time lead.

But Samurai showed their familiar mental resilience with smartly taken tries from Griffiths and Dacey pulling them level. A try-saving tap tackle from Griffiths on Odejobi kept Samurai in touch but it was the elusive Edwards again giving Esher the lead in an absorbing encounter, 31-24.

But Samurai’s burning National Sevens Series desire began to tell and a break from Rhys Jones was finished by Hunt. With Esher visibly flagging the mercurial Hunt was on hand to finish twice more to give Samurai another memorable win, 31-42.

 Cup semi-finals

Earlier on Samurai had put an end to the HFW Wailers’ impressive run knocking them out at the semi-final stage, 24-21. Samurai clicked through the gears at the right time with tries coming from Simon Hunt (2),Tom Wiley, Rhys Jones and Mike Davis with Jack Harrison, Steve Parsons, and Joel Hodgson crossing for the dangerous Wailers.

The undoubted biggest upset day came from Esher who knocked out the hugely fancied British Army in the first semi-final.

The Army raced into a 21-0 lead but Esher hit back through Odejobi just before the break. Another score from Odejobi cut the gap further with the Army beginning to tire. Further tries from Esher captain Jonny Hylton and Odejobi’s third killed of Army’s RugbyRocks hopes.

Cup quarter-finals

Esher earlier had displayed more pace and power to overwhelm the Aukuma Smurfs to book in the last eight. Neville Edwards (2) gave Esher a two try cushion and the Smurfs had no first half reply.

Late tries in the second half by Smurfs Dan Fox and Steve Taylor proved too little too late as Esher put the game to bed when Stephenson and Odejobi crossed the whitewash to seal the 14-29 win.

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Two tries from James Hawken in the first half gave Apache hope of a historic first victory over the British Army. But Mark Lee's men rallied, with the Army coming from behind to book their place in the final four with a strong 26-12 final score.

Two electric scores from HFW Wailers winger Tyson Lewis shocked the Pups in the third quarter-final of the day. Further second half tries to Aaron Myers and Scott Riddell further illustrated the Wailers dominance as they booked their semi-final berth without conceding any points, 31-0.

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An early double from a dominant Simon Hunt gave Samurai an early cushion in a grudge encounter with the Marauders in the final quarter-final. England Sevens squad member Rhys Crane pulled one for the Marauders but Samurai enjoyed the better territory and Gavin Dacey’s try pushed them further ahead. Lee McLaughlin’s consolation burst wasn’t enough for the Marauders, with Samurai going through 21-12.

Plate Competition

Injury hit Olorun ID took consolation from a poor display earlier in the day by taking the Plate, beating Irish Raiders 36-21. Tries from Frost, Shires, Thomas, Marc De Marigny, Jones, and the impressive Dave Vincent gave Alex Taylor’s men confidence heading to the West Country next week. Olorun had won a last gasp semi-final earlier beating French Pyrenees 22-19 with a late Vincent effort. The Raiders knocked out Ronin to reach the final, 29-12. 

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National Sevens Series RugbyRocks Results

National Sevens Series - RugbyRocks Schedule

Group Stages:

10:00 A Gilbert Pups 14 French Pyrenees 10
10:20 B HFW Wailers 24 Olorun ID 19
10:40 C WH Marauders 12 British Army 24
11:00 D Samurai International 22 Apache 21
11:20 A Gilbert Pups 10 Akuma Smurfs19
11:40 B HFW Wailers 38 Esher 12
12:00 C WH Marauders 26 RB Ronin 17
12:20 D Samurai International 33 Irish Raiders 21
12:40 A French Pyrenees V Akuma Smurfs
13:00 B Olorun ID 24 Esher 5
13:20 C British Army 29 RB Ronin 19
13:40 D Apache 24 Irish Raiders 5

Knockouts:

14:20 Cup Q/F Akuma Smurfs 14 Esher 29
14:40 Cup Q/F British Army 24 Apache 14
15:00 Cup Q/F HFW Wailers 31 Gilbert Pups 0
15:20 Cup Q/F Marauders 12 Samurai International 21
15:40 Plate Semi French Pyrenees 19 Olorun ID 22
16:00 Plate Semi Irish Raiders 29 Ronin 12
16:20 Cup Semi British Army 21  Esher 24
16:40 Cup Semi Samurai International 26 HFW Wailers 21

17:00 Open Final Koru Kamikaze 50 POD 17
17:30 Womens Final Wooden Spoon 48 Saracens 0
18:00 Plate Final Plate Irish Raiders 17 Olorun Identity 36
18:30 Cup Final Cup Esher 31 Samurai International 42