SCOTLAND 7s GET OFF TO WINNING START
Posted: 26/May/07
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Scotland 19, Italy 0

In the game that head coach Stephen Gemmell targeted as a key clash in terms of qualification for the Cup competition on day two, Scotland delivered.

After the game, Gemmell reflected on an encouraging first outing of the day: “We identified the Italy game as one we needed to win; now all our focus is on our next tie against Kenya. A win over Kenya would take us into the Cup competition tomorrow which is our goal.”

After an initial period of pressure from Italy, the Scots were awarded a penalty inside their own 22 which Colin Gregor took quickly.

The ball was spun left and Ben Cairns was unleashed, burning the trailing defenders to cross the line in a terrific solo effort. Adamson failed to convert from out wide.

Ben Addison was next to cross three minutes later when Roddy Grant and Cairns put him away, with a neat pass behind the back from Cairns. Addison converted.

The Italians made a break shortly into the second half after they forced a turnover, putting in a dangerous tackle on Colin Gregor who was driven back, landing awkwardly on his neck. However, as Alessandro Onori crossed the whitewash, he failed to ground the ball correctly.

Scotland’s reply was another try. Replacement Max Evans sliced through the Italian defence and offloaded to captain Scott Forrest who was in support. Adamson converted.

Scotland’s next game of the Emirates Airline London Sevens is against Kenya at 1:56pm.

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Scotland 7s 19, Kenya 7s 19
Scotland drew their second game of the Emirates Airline London Sevens against Kenya.

Kenya knocked on their attempt at gathering the kick-off, handing a scrum to Scotland. Kenya won the ball against the head and picked away at Scotland’s defence before Sidney Ashioya crossed in the right corner only two minutes into the game. Gibson Weru Kahuthia failed to convert.

Scotland mounted a comeback and struggled to get into the game as convincingly as their earlier game against Italy.

Mark Robertson, Colin Gregor and Max Evans all had shots at taking Scotland up the left flank but they all experienced severe pressure by the Kenyan defence.

The Scots eventually had a glimmer of hope when Mike Adamson came close to the line, but a late tackle saw him spill the ball.

The result of the organised Kenyan defence meant that Scotland were soon looking at the heels of Weru Kahuthia who ran in for the Kenyans second score. He converted his own score.

A flash of terrific vision from Gregor saw him put a neat chip to Mark Robertson who was out wide in space. Robertson moved up the left wing and linked with Roddy Grant and Adamson to go under the posts virtually unchallenged. Adamson converted.

The first three minutes of the second half saw both sides tussle for possession and steal ball numerous on numerous occasions. However, it was Kenya who got the better of the Scots, with the majority of the London crowd right behind the African nation, as Victor Sudi Simiyu crossed the line, converting himself.

Scotland never gave up hope and some of their best spells of possession came in the dying minutes.

As Scotland kept their cool, Ben Cairns found space and soaked in enough defenders to give Gregor space to cross the line. Adamson converted.

The Kenyans chipped ahead and the crowd were brought to the edge of their seat as two bodies were in hot pursuit, many of those behind the Africans did not expect Robertson to be the first to the ball.

The closing moments of the match were a nervy affair, more-so for the Scotland support in the stands rather than the players in the thick of it.

Putting all of their bodies on the line, Scotland finally got what they had worked so hard for, as Forrest brought the scores level with the last play of the game.

Unfortunately, Adamson was unable to convert from out wide to seal the win.

More to follow...

Samoa and New Zealand look the pick of the sides at the Emirates Airline London Sevens after both recorded 100% records on day one at Twickenham.

Series leaders Fiji left it until the dying seconds of their final match to scrape past France and avoid a first ever Bowl quarter final appearance. With three Cup successes already this season, Fiji are one good tournament away from closing in on a second successive Series title but will have to improve greatly on day two.

Hosts England lacked spark, struggling past a good Portuguese side before losing first to Wales and then South Africa to compound a disappointing day following the senior side's 58-10 loss in Bloemfontein.

The home nations were, however, well represented by Scotland and Wales and the two sides will play eachother in tomorrow's quarter finals, meaning that one of them will reach a Cup semi final for the first time.





Quarter final line up:
Fiji - Australia
Wales - Scotland
New Zealand - South Africa
Samoa-Argentina

This article was originally posted on 26-May-2007, 10:58 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 26-May-2007, 19:46.