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The second day of the inaugural World Tens Series event in Bermuda brought a new challenge for players. Short island rain storms required tactics that closer resembled a full 15-a-side battle at times, though the sun did shine enough to allow for some sevens-style free flow as well.
Results were closer on Day Two, with four matches losing bonus points awarded for defeats of under three points. Even the scrappy Phoenix team were more competitive with the addition of four new players, though results did not reflect it with 88 points conceded in two games. They will have significant reinforcements next weekend.
It was the Rhinos who continued to impress, coming through the opening round a perfect five-from-five with two narrow wins on Monday. The second was a de-facto round 1 Grand Final with two unbeaten teams colliding.
A Ross Neal breakaway score gave the London Royals the lead with Zinzan Elan-Puttick opting for safety with one extra point. The Rhinos rebounded in the second half. Cyrille Cama’s try on full-time gave Carl Meyer the opportunity to kick a two-point conversion and steal the win, and the tournament’s leading point-scorer duly obliged.
Three teams finished with equal 2-3 records. Ohio were on opposite sides of two one-point contests, while the Asia Pacific Dragons and Miami Sun each picked much-needed wins. Lino Saunitoga touched down in each game for the Dragons to close the opening round with a tourney-leading four tries.
Round 2 begins on Saturday. Assuming SX10 are cleared to participate, the competition will have two new teams of sorts. Phoenix will discard their stand-in players and roll out a nearly entirely new lineup with the addition of several Southern Kings players.
ROUND 1 SESSION 4
RHINOS 7
Tries – C. Winnaar
Cons – C. Meyer 1/1 (2)
Yellow cards – Z. Bonte
MIAMI SUN 5
Tries – M. Satavu
Cons – J. Stokes 0/1
OHIO AVIATORS 11
Tries – Penalty try, M. Tonga’uiha
Cons – B. Cima 1/2 (1)
ASIA PACIFIC DRAGONS 10
Tries – L. Saunitoga
Cons – T. Bell 1/1 (5)
LONDON ROYALS 44
Tries – D. Onojaife, A. Davis 2, T. Bowen, J. Haley, T. Emery
Cons – Z. Elan-Puttick 3/3 (3), T. Emery 3/3 (11)
PHOENIX 0
ROUND 1 SESSION 5
MIAMI SUN 11
Tries – D. van der Merwe, N. Tuamoheloa
Cons – N. Boyer 1/2 (1)
OHIO AVIATORS 10
Tries – P. O’Toole
Cons – B. Cima 1/1 (5)
PHOENIX 0
ASIA PACIFIC DRAGONS 44
Tries – L. Saunitoga, H. Samisoni, J. Nale, T. Bell, T. Alosio, A. Khutsishvili
Cons – T. Bell 4/5 (13), A. Khutsishvili 1/1 (1)
RHINOS 7
Tries – C. Cama
Cons – C. Meyer 1/1 (2)
LONDON ROYALS 6
Tries – R. Neal
Cons – Z. Elan-Puttick 1/1 (1)
ROUND 1 STANDINGS
| TEAM | GP | W | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | PTS |
| Rhinos | 5 | 5 | 0 | 80 | 26 | 54 | 1 | 16 |
| London Royals | 5 | 4 | 1 | 96 | 24 | 72 | 3 | 15 |
| Asia Pacific Dragons | 5 | 2 | 3 | 79 | 39 | 40 | 3 | 9 |
| Ohio Aviators | 5 | 2 | 3 | 57 | 44 | 13 | 3 | 9 |
| Miami Sun | 5 | 2 | 3 | 54 | 60 | -6 | 2 | 8 |
| Phoenix | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 184 | -174 | 0 | 0 |
| SX10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
