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Robin Heymann, Twickenham

ULR Samurai International’s stellar season continues with a superb triumph at the Middlesex Charity Sevens.

In a rematch of last year’s finale, Samurai’s all-star line-up gained sweet revenge over Premiership outfit London Irish who were defending champions.

The invitational powerhouse’s resolute defensive performance proved the key factor in the 15-12 win at a rain soaked Twickenham.

Samurai had bought together some of the outstanding names of the IRB Sevens World Series from South Africa, Kenya, New Zealand and Portugal.

Captain Marius Schoeman led by example early on in the final, powering over from short range but Irish’s class soon began to tell.

With established England internationals such as Paul Hodgson and Delon Armitage at the heart of their efforts, they hit back with a try finished off by Jonathon Joseph to make it 5-5.

Some splendid hands from Paul Hodgson soon after gifted a try to young flyer Marland Yarde, with Irish carrying a 12-5 lead into half-time.

But Samurai’s sevens wisdom began to tell; executing the basics expertly on the greasy surface.

Kenyan winger Collins Injera picked up a cross field kick with the industrious Paul Delport supporting on his shoulder to cut the deficit to just two points.

As they have shown through the UK season, Samurai’s dominance at the restart was a telling factor. Collins Injera finishing off a sweeping team move soon after move to nudge the Samurai ahead.

Irish were valiant in their attempts to hit back with Yarde’s high tackle sin-binning not helping their cause in a feisty second period.

Delon Armitage’s late chip and chase could have stolen it at the death, but Samurai just held on in a frenetic finish. Their win, the first in the tournament's history, follows up on the back of success at the inaugural National Sevens Series and wins at Amsterdam and Cwmtawe in recent months.

Cup semi-finals

Samurai blitzed National Series rivals, the British Army, in their semi-final encounter. Schoeman and Injera (2) giving Samurai a three try lead. It was a similar story in the second half with Samurai handing a lesson to the men in red, with MJ Mentz and Paul Delport crossing in the 29-0 win.

London Irish sealed their place in the final with a comprehensive 22-0 dismantling of London Wasps. Steffon Armitage scored two first half-half tries to build a healthy half-time cushion. Young guns Joseph and Marcus Watson finished off Wasps in the second period as last year’s winners again impressed.

Cup quarter-finals

England’s Commonwealth Games preparations were rocked with a shock 10-12 loss to Wasps in an earlier quarter-final.

Tom Varndell was inspirational in the triumph, scoring twice to remind the England side - playing under the Help for Heroes banner - of his calibre in the abbreviated code. 

Irish were clinical in their quarter-final clash with Exeter Chiefs. Salosi Tagicakibau getting the pick of the tries in a comfortable 26-7 triumph.

The Army shone in their quarter-final clash, possessing far too much firepower and South Sea flair for a developmental Kenya side (28-5).

Harlequins, winners in 2008, took the lead in their last eight clash with Samurai but were found wanting after Danny Care’s needless yellow card. Zar Lawrence and Paul Delport scored late on to knock out the local boys.

Falcons take out Plate

Newcastle Falcons picked up some morale boosting pre-season silverware with a victory in the Plate. Facing a Wales side preparing for October’s Commonwealth Games, the Falcons crucially kicked conversions from Will Welch and Jeremy Manning tries in a 14-10 final win. Ifan Evans and in-form rangy winger Alex Cuthbert crossed for Paul John’s side.

In what was a grudge derby encounter, Newcastle got the better of invitational giant HFW Wailers 24-7 in the first semi-final. Wales clicked through the gears against the Gilbert Pups (31-14) to set-up their meeting with the Falcons, with Cuthbert again showing his classy finishing.

CLICK HERE for summary from the first round games.

2010 Middlesex Sevens Results:

First Round

London Irish 31 Leicester Tigers 7
HFW Wailers 14 Exeter Chiefs 19
London Wasps 21 Newcastle Falcons 7
Saracens 5 England's Help for Heroes 10
The British Army 19 Gilbert Pups 5
Kenya 7s 19 Leeds Carnegie 12
Wales Amser Justin Time 19 Harlequins 34
White Hart Marauders 5 ULR Samurai International 38

Knockouts

Plate QF - Leicester Tigers 7 HFW Wailers 43
Plate QF - Newcastle Falcons 17 Saracens 0
Plate QF - Gilbert Pups 33 Leeds Carnegie 5
Plate QF - White Hart Marauders 7 Wales 24

Cup QF - London Irish 26 Exeter Chiefs 7
Cup QF - London Wasps 12 England's Help for Heroes 10
Cup QF - British Army 28 Kenya 7s 5
Cup QF - Harlequins 12 ULR Samurai International 19

Plate SF - HFW Wailers 19 Newcastle Falcons 24
Plate SF - Gilbert Pubs 14 Wales Amser Justin Time 31

Cup SF - London Irish 22 London Wasps 0
Cup SF - Samkurai International 29 British Army 0

Plate Final - Newcastle Falcons 14 Wales Amser Justin Time 10

Cup Final - ULR Samurai 15 London Irish 12