Fiji win Cup Final at Hamilton Sevens

Fiji defeated South Africa 24-17 in a thrilling Cup Final at Waikato Stadium to close out first ever HSBC Sevens Series event held in Hamilton. Alosio Naduva’s third try of the match erased a 12-point halftime deficit and capped of an impressive run for the Fijians, who edged both Samoa and hosts New Zealand by a conversion the Quarter and Semi Finals respectively. The Blitzbokke remain in first place overall on the circuit but Fiji have closed the gap to just eight points.

The second day proved more fruitful for the Americas teams than the first. All three sides won their Trophy Quarter Final matchups, and the Trophy Final saw the USA paired up against Argentina. The Eagles proved the best Americas outfit of the tournament by defeating the Pumas 31-12. Danny Barrett scored two tries while Perry Baker touched down once for his tournament-leading 8th try of the weekend.

Argentina had to get past a determined Canadian side in the Trophy Semi Final, ultimately taking the win thanks to Felipe del Mestre’s accurate goal kicking. The result meant that Canada’s tournament ended early. It’s never an objective to do so but with so many players battered and exhausted at the end of an especially attritional Pacific leg the team will not have complained too much.

The Series now takes a month off before returning for the North American leg with Las Vegas up first beginning on March 2. Vancouver will host their third annual event a week later.

 

 

DAY TWO RESULTS

TROPHY QUARTER FINALS
Wales 14 – 19 Canada
Argentina 21 – 12 Russia
USA 29 – 12 Spain
Papua New Guinea 35 – 0 France

CUP QUARTER FINALS
Fiji 12 – 10 Samoa
New Zealand 19 – 12 England
Kenya 12 – 33 Australia
South Africa 22 – 0 Scotland

13th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Wales 33 – 7 Russia
Spain 14 – 19 France

TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Canada 12 – 14 Argentina
USA 42 – 12 Papua New Guinea

5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Samoa 22 – 17 England
Kenya 33 – 19 Scotland

CUP SEMI FINALS
Fiji 14 – 12 New Zealand
Australia 5 – 24 South Africa

13th PLACE FINAL
Wales 17 – 19 France

TROPHY FINAL
Argentina 12 – 31 USA

5th PLACE FINAL
Samoa 19 – 15 Kenya

BRONZE FINAL
New Zealand 7 – 8 Australia

CUP FINAL
Fiji 24 – 17 South Africa