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Nick Jordan in Sigatoka

A series of unusual results meant the calculators were out the opening day of the Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in Sigatoka.

The second edition of the tournament, which seduced Waisale Serevi back onto the field in charge of his team "Serevi", delivered three draws and a countback was needed to find the top eight.

The 43-year old Serevi won't be in that bracket with his side losing twice but 'the Maestro' delighted the Lawaqa Park crowd with his comeback.

Navosa, featuring former internationals Keni Salabogi and Napolioni Nalaga, beat Naviti 15-0 and Ratu Filise 14-0 before opening up against Dritabua for a 34-0 victory and will play surprise package Bainivualiku, who won Pool D, in the Cup quarterfinals.

Police took out Pool B with two narrow victories (12-5 over Saunaka and 12-7 over Hideaway) and a comfortable 26-14 win over Auckland Marist. The lawmen play Ratu Filise, the best of the runners-up, in the last eight.

Army, finalists a year ago, and Samurai Barracudas clash in the feature quarter-final after each had three wins while Wardens, despite drawing one match 17-17, take on Fijian National University.

Last year's champions Red Rock lost their opening game and drop to the Bowl of the 24-team tournament meaning the substantial first prize of FJD30,000 will go elsewhere this year.

Wallaby great David Campese, the technical advisor of the Navosa team, said it had been an interesting tournament so far.

"We've struggled in a couple of the games because all the teams are tryting to play the same style and we're trying to get them to use the ball rather than power over people," he said. "We got better as the day went on and our defence is good but it's a totally different game tomorrow and we just want to keep on winning."

The four New Zealand teams struggled to adjust in the spiritual home of sevens, with the best-performed being Amasio Valence's New Zealand Fiji Barbarians who went close to toppling Samurai in the last game of the day.

Auckland Marist, the champion Queen City club, managed a 7-7 draw with Hideaway but Lomaiviti and Wellington, a representative side, lost all three games with the straight-running Fijians outclassing the generally hesitant visitors.

A host of former Fijian internationals, such as Etonia Naba and Sekesena Aca (Police), David Batiratu (Samurai), Dale Tonawai (Army), Nikola Matawalu (Navy), Ilai Tinai (Wardens) as well as veterans Serevi, Marika Vunibaka and Viliame Satala graced Lawaqa Park in sometimes slippery conditions.

The current Fiji team preparing for next week's IRB season opener on the Gold Coast were not released to play for their clubs.

The tournament, made possible with the assistance of Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa, Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa, Outrigger on the Lagoon, the Naviti Resort and Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa will be live on Fijian radio and television tomorrow, with legendary New Zealand caller Keith Quinn part of the broadcast team.

I-Wau (Cup) Quarterfinals
Wardens v FNU
Bainivualiku v Navosa
Army v Samurai
Ratu Filise v Police

Davui (Bowl) Quarterfinals
Yalovata v Saunaka
Navy v Red Rock
Hideaway v Nasolo Young Boys
Natabua v Uprising Beach Resort

Lase (Shield) Quarterfinals
Naviti v Lomaiviti (NZ)
Wellington (NZ) v Serevi (US)
Dritabua v Warwick
NZ Fijian Barbarians (NZ) v Auckland Marist (NZ)