RECORD RESULT TAKES SCOTS CLOSER TO HK CUP
Scotland notched up the highest ever score at the Hong Kong Sevens by defeating Singapore by a massive 82-0 this morning. It was the second highest score in the history of the IRB Sevens, narrowly behind South Africa's 84-0 win over Malaysia in Tokyo in April 2000.
Scotland knew they had to get a high score if they are to have a chance of continuing in the cup section tomorrow and this result will certainly help their cause, adding to yesterday’s 33-7 win over Japan.
Team manager Peter Gallagher was delighted with the performance. He said: “That was really what we set out to try and do because points are going to be the important thing eventually.
“The boys didn’t panic, they stuck to the game plan and they played as a team. They kept the shape and the pattern that we’d planned but it’s hard work racking up 82 points!”
Scotland proved to be an unstoppable speed train for the full match, the first score coming after a minute of play as Dave Callam took his first try on the IRB circuit. Try number two followed from the re-start, Nick De Luca charging for the line then Andrew Turnbull continued his fine form from yesterday’s match against Japan to take it to 21-0, Ali Warnock successfully converted all three.
Warnock got himself on the try count with a break from the halfway line and remained focused and accurate throughout, providing high re-starts and switching the play to the wings from his central position.
The team had a quick huddle at the half, sitting confidently on 35-0 thanks to Clark Laidlaw’s final score of the half but they didn’t ease off for the remainder of the match and went on to score a further 47 points.
“A fantastic game by the lads” was how captain Mark Lee summed it up. “That was impressive because we stay focused throughout the game and stuck to our structure.”
Matt Coupar and Scott Forrest took to the field for the start of the second half, Forrest getting his first try of the tournament and Coupar scavenged for every loose ball and was rewarded with two tries.
When Oli Brown replaced Laidlaw, who bagged a second try for the match, it took him less than a minute to prove his pace and agility, skipping over two Singapore players on his way to the line.
A trade-mark darting run from Turnbull in the 12th minute took the team to 70 points clear and Colin Gregor went for a clever chip over the defence, collecting it calmly to stroll in for his first score.
The squad looked as though they could have played beyond the final whistle and the crowd loved their pace and eagerness to show what they are capable of. An exhausted but delighted Lee was happy with the progress made since Melbourne.
He said: “The guys are looking athletic on the pitch and are in the best shape they’ve ever been in.”
While Gallagher also felt things are starting to gel for the team. He added: “They’re working very well as a squad. The guys that we brought on are direct runners and we needed them to run tries in for us. They were looking for the gaps, going for the line and that’s what they did.”
Today’s round of games will see the boys face their toughest challenge yet, against New Zealand. With only one guaranteed to qualify from the group, the Scots have everything to play for. Gallagher said: “Against New Zealand, we don’t change our philosophy, we’ll stick to our game plan and see what happens.”
The sell-out crowd expected will give plenty of support and this confident, record-setting display can only strengthen their chances of having a close and exciting game against the Kiwis. Even more so as New Zealand narrowly escaped the biggest upset in the history of the circuit as they trailed Japan 17-19 as the final hooter sounded. However a last minute try by Dwayne Sweene saved theu blushes, winning 24-19.
SCOTLAND 7s: Mark Lee * (King’s Own Scottish Borderers) CAPTAIN, Dave Callam * (Edinburgh Gunners), Colin Gregor * (Glasgow Warriors and Watsonians), Clark Laidlaw * (Jed-Forest), Ali Warnock * (Nottingham), Andrew Turnbull * (Watsonians) and Nick De Luca * (Edinburgh Gunners)
Subs: Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Gunners and Stewart’s Melville FP), Oli Brown * (Boroughmuir), Scott Forrest (Glasgow Warriors and Glasgow Hawks), Matt Coupar (Edinburgh Academicals), Ciaran Beattie (Border Reivers and Selkirk).
* indicates member of the Scottish Institute of Sport

This article was posted on 1-Apr-2006, 22:42 by Hugh Barrow.