The Asia Pacific Dragons were the talk of the town in Hamilton on Monday evening after an impressive Day Three at the World Tens Series. After a sluggish first day of the tournament the renowned touring side have won four from five including both matches to start Round 2.
A revamped Phoenix side were no match for the Dragons as Lino Saunitoga scored his tourney-leading fifth try. Next was a more difficult challenge in the Ohio Aviators. Ben Cima’s five-point conversion attempt with time expired sailed wide with the Dragons taking a four-point victory.
It came in part thanks to five points from the boot of Tommy Bell, who pushed ahead of a silenced Carl Meyer into the top of the points table. The fortunes of Meyer’s Rhinos flipped completely with the previously undefeated side losing back-to-back games against the Aviators and London Royals.
SCORING LEADERS
PLAYER | TEAM | POINTS |
Tommy Bell | Asia Pacific Dragons | 39 |
Carl Meyer | Rhinos | 35 |
Tom Emery | London Royals | 33 |
Ben Cima | Ohio Aviators | 26 |
Lino Saunitoga | Asia Pacific Dragons | 25 |
For the Royals it was down then up. They were upset by the Miami Sun to start the day and rebounded by shutting out the Rhinos. Tom Emery again impressed with two tries and and some handy open field kicking.
Conditions were difficult as the Bermuda skies opened early and pounded the field with rain for much of the afternoon, with a stiff breeze prevailing throughout. As a result most teams opted for a more tactical approach with kicking and tighter attacking patterns employed by most teams.
There was yet another obstacle aside from the weather. SX10 did not receive the expected clearance in time to play on Monday. They will, however, take the field at last on Tuesday and will play four games in what will be their only day of action ahead of Saturday’s finals.
ROUND 2 SESSION 1
LONDON ROYALS 11
Tries – T. Emery, A. Campbell
Cons – Z. Elan-Puttick 1/1 (1), T. Emery 0/1
MIAMI SUN 15
Tries – N. Tuamoheloa, L. Tani
Cons – J. Stokes 1/2 (5)
ASIA PACIFIC DRAGONS 27
Tries – T. Alosio, R. Gouws, E. Schoeman, L. Saunitoga
Cons – T. Bell 2/3 (6), K. Morath 1/1 (1)
PHOENIX 5
Tries – J. Poland
Cons – A. Loubser 0/1
OHIO AVIATORS 11
Tries – B. Tucker, J. Smith
Cons – B. Cima 1/2 (1)
RHINOS 10
Tries – E. Naposki, C. Winnaar
Cons – C. Meyer 0/2
ROUND 2 SESSION 2
PHOENIX 0
Red cards – Z. Radzius
OHIO AVIATORS 22
Tries – S. Riley, B. Campbell, J. Eloff
Cons – B. Cima 2/3 (7)
RHINOS 0
LONDON ROYALS 12
Tries – T. Emery, R. de Carpentier
Cons – T. Emery 1/2 (2)
ROUND 2 SESSION 3
PHOENIX 5
Tries – L. Berg
Cons – A. Loubser 0/1
MIAMI SUN 0
ASIA PACIFIC DRAGONS 20
Tries – H. Samisoni, T. Palamo, V. Toluta’u
Cons – T. Bell 1/3 (5)
OHIO AVIATORS 16
Tries – Penalty try, B. Campbell, E. Howard
Cons – B. Cima 1/3 (1)
ROUND 2 STANDINGS
TEAM | GP | W | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | PTS |
Asia Pacific Dragons | 2 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 21 | +26 | 2 | 8 |
Ohio Aviators | 3 | 2 | 1 | 49 | 30 | +19 | 2 | 8 |
London Royals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 15 | +8 | 0 | 3 |
Miami Sun | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 16 | -1 | 0 | 3 |
Phoenix | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 49 | -39 | 0 | 3 |
Rhinos | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 23 | -13 | 1 | 1 |
SX10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
PT | ET | LOCAL | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 |
05:30 | 08:30 | 09:30 | Ohio Aviators | London Royals |
06:00 | 09:00 | 10:00 | Asia Pacific Dragons | Miami Sun |
06:30 | 09:30 | 10:30 | SX10 | Rhinos |
07:30 | 10:30 | 11:30 | Miami Sun | Ohio Aviators |
08:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | SX10 | Phoenix |
08:30 | 11:30 | 12:30 | Asia Pacific Dragons | Rhinos |
09:30 | 12:30 | 13:30 | London Royals | Phoenix |
10:00 | 13:00 | 14:00 | Miami Sun | Rhinos |
10:30 | 13:30 | 14:30 | Ohio Aviators | SX10 |
11:30 | 14:30 | 15:30 | Rhinos | Phoenix |
12:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 | Miami Sun | SX10 |
12:30 | 15:30 | 16:30 | London Royals | Asia Pacific Dragons |