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more »Penguins stun SA Vipers in Singapore epic
Nick Jordan in Singapore
A heart-stopping, sudden-death final decided the 63rd edition of the Singapore Cricket Club Rugby Sevens, with a new name to be engraved on the Ablitt Cup.
The Penguins from the UK, fielding all New Zealand-based players, defeated the South African Vipers 19-14 to win after almost 25 minutes of play. Promising winger David Raikuna was the hero for the touring club scoring twice in the final including the match-winner.
The three-day event that welcomed 54 teams (men's, women's and schools) from 15 nations was another resounding success despite occasional inclement weather. A large crowd braved the rain at the Padang for the thrilling finish while for the first time the Finals went live to homes throughout Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Ablitt Cup a nail-biter
Eight minutes passed in the Cup Final which was refereed by Matt O'Brien (the son of IRB Referees' boss Paddy) before Nalu Tuigamala scored against the run of play for the Penguins, and they held a slender 7-0 lead at halftime.
After the break Logan Basson broke the Penguin line and set up Bernardo Botha for the equaliser.
Both teams brought the crowd to the feet as the lightning flashed and the thunder roared. Penguins captain, and New Zealand Sevens representative, Nafi Tuitavake sprinted clear to set up Raikuna and the crowd sensed an upset.
The Bokke threw everything at the Penguins and O'Brien kept play going with a string of penalties. From the last one, Botha went in the corner and Branco du Preez calmly slotted a conversion from the sideline to trigger extra time.
More penalties followed to the Penguins but they refused to kick for goal, a decision which paid off when Raikuna went over near the posts, inflicting the South Africans' first loss in Singapore in four years.
The 23-year old Fijian-born flyer, who has his sights set on the New Zealand squad, praised his team-mates after the epic final.
"It was a tough match but we held it together and it was amazing how the guys gave it all at the end. It was amazing playing in front of this crowd and I also thank the man upstairs for His guidance."
International standard amazes Treu
Paul Treu compared the final to an IRB event, paying credit to the victors.
"The Penguins won the breakdown and that's where they won the game," said the South African coach. "The surface made it difficult but we just need to go back and see what we did wrong and where we could have taken scoring opportunities a little better."
Treu was delighted with the development aspect of the tournament.
"We gave the new boys a taste of what it's like on the IRB circuit and this is the best thing that could have happened to us before Dubai and George. The exercise of bringing the team to Singapore showed us where we are at in terms of the skill levels and the understanding of the game plan. We have about two weeks to work on a few things."
In the Plate final first-time visitors Sunnybank from Queensland produced a remarkable final spurt to beat the Fijian-dominated NS Wanderers winning 15-10 after trailing 5-10 at halftime.
Sri Lanka thrilled the crowd to win the Bowl 19-12 over Tamariva from Japan. Sri Lankan coach Inthi Marikar, although pleased, was also a little frustrated.
"We let Impala off the hook yesterday and then lost the next game so perhaps we should have done better in the tournament," he said. "Our speed, agility and stepping ability are our strengths and it is just the physicality we need to improve."
Sri Lanka join Hong Kong, Japan and seven others in the Asian Games in Guangzhou later this month.
The Jug Final saw Southern Lions defeat the Casuarina Cougars 14-12.
Kiwis dominate playoffs
Earlier, two 'New Zealand' teams contested the first Ablitt Cup semi-final with the Penguins' depth proving vital in the 33-10 victory over Horowhenua-Kapiti. Warwick Lahmert opened the scoring from a tap penalty but Paula Kinikinilau gave the Penguins the lead by scoring under the posts. Sustained pressure led to a try to Matt Hodson and a 14-5 half time lead.
A patient Penguins then sent Nalu Tuigamala over for the third try but 17-year old Willie Pavaiva gave Horowhenua-Kapiti a glimmer of hope, one which was quickly snuffed when Shane Christie went under the bar and substitute Johnny McNicholl crossed late.
Horowhenua-Kapiti's dream debut at Asia's oldest Sevens tournament thus ended but, like Sunnybank, they hope to return in future years.
The previous all-Kiwi clash, in the quarter-final, went the way of the Penguins with surprising ease.
Ponsonby missed several tackles to allow Paula Kinikinilau in for the opening try and Matt Hodson won a penalty off Rocky Khan to send captain Nafi Tuitavake in for the Penguins' second. Tuigamala burst through to make the half-time score 17-0 and virtually wrap up the tie.
The former champions had no answers to the Penguin strength in the contact and further tries to Hodson, Tuitavake and Raikuna took the score to 36-0 and an early exit for the Aucklanders.
Vipers battle to final
In the other half of the draw the South African Vipers reached their fourth successive Final the hard way.
The defending champions looked off-colour in their red shirts against the Malaysian-based Borneo Eagles even though they went into half-time 14-7 ahead thanks to a double from Branco du Preez.
Sibusiso Sithole sparked the Bokke after the break with a fine solo try but Samoan international Etuale Pitone scored in the corner to reduce the gap. The Vipers' defence held firm for a 21-12 semi-final victory, although the strain of their quarter-final was showing.
They had met Davetalevu in the Cup Final the previous two years and the last-eight clash this time around was a physical battle worthy of the showpiece match.
New Fij national squad member Semesa Gonevou put Davetalevu up 5-0 before Basson equalised for the Bokke. Bernardo Botha pounced on a Fijian error to give them the lead 12-5 only to see Epeli Natuikata narrow the gap to 10-12 at the break.
Seru Naqasima gave the Fijians the lead once more and the Bokke had to dig deep to stay alive. Substitute Howard Noble scampered in the corner to tie the scores at 17-17 with 90 seconds to play and moments later stepped his marker beautifully to take the match 24-17.
"Our boys showed a lot of commitment against a tough side and that was a big win for us. The Fijians are very unpredictable but we gave it our all and that paid off for us," said Noble, who has seven IRB tournaments for South Africa.
The Free State winger, who turns 25 tomorrow, admitted getting back in the full side was a big motivater.
"I have been playing a lot of fifteens and it is an honour and a privelege to be back pulling on the Springbok jersey. I want to show Paul (Treu) that I deserve to be back and hopefully if I work hard I can make the team."
The Eagles had earlier tamed the Hong Kong Dragons 33-7. Even though the Dragons started well, the additional size and strength of the Eagles gradually extinguished their fire. Richie Achong scored two tries for the victors.
Weather no barrier for Singapore fun
The day had begun with comfortable wins for all these teams, bar the Dragons who edged Japan Samurai in a see-sawing clash, in the round of 16. The early matches were played through puddles which lay across the ground, causing a number of handling errors, but the 30+ degree sunshine dried out the Padang as the action also heated up on it.
And the action continued long into the night with the traditional teams' dinner, live music and ample refreshment, reinforcing the tournament's reputation as the Friendly Sevens.
Nick Jordan is in Singapore with thanks to the Singapore Cricket Club, Tourism Fiji and Air Pacific
Related news:
RESULTS OF THE 63rd SINGAPORE CRICKET CLUB INTERNATIONAL RUGBY SEVENS
ABLITT CUP
ROUND OF 16
Penguins 44 East Arnhem (Gove) 0
Ponsonby 27 Sunnybank 5
Horowhenua-Kapiti 33 NT Mosquitoes 10
Impala 17 Palmyra 12 (AET)
Borneo Eagles 22 NS Wanderers 0
Hong Kong Dragons 26 Japan Samurai 22
Davetalevu 26 COBRA 5
South African Vipers 31 Cottesloe 5
QUARTER FINALS
Penguins 36 Ponsonby 0
Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 Impala 5
Borneo Eagles 33 Hong Kong Dragons 7
SA Vipers 24 Davetalevu 17
SEMI FINALS
Penguins 33 Horowhenua-Kapiti 10
SA Vipers 21 Borneo Eagles 12
FINAL
Penguins 19 SA Vipers 14 (AET)
PLATE
QUARTER FINALS
Sunnybank 35 East Arnhem (Gove) 14
NT Mosquitoes 19 Palmyra 7
NS Wanderers WBD Japan Samurai
COBRA 19 Cottesloe 12
SEMI FINALS
Sunnybank 14 NT Mosquitoes 5
NS Wanderers 36 COBRA 12
FINAL
Sunnybank 15 NS Wanderers 10
BOWL
SEMI FINALS
Sri Lanka 26 Singapore Cricket Club 19
Tamariva 19 SIngapore Barbarians 12
FINAL
Sri Lanka 19 Tamariva 12
JUG
FINAL
Southern Lions 14 Casuarina Cougars12
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