SCOTS EXIT LONDON SEVENS IN PLATE SEMI’S
Posted: 27/May/07
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Australia 7s 15, Scotland 7s 5
A defeat to Australia saw Scotland leave the Emirates Airline London Sevens in the Plate semi-final stages.

After the game, head coach Stephen Gemmell said: “I’m disappointed again. It’s a great opportunity missed, especially given that we are capable of beating Australia [Scotland beat Australia 17-7 in the USA Plate semi-final].

”I think from a player’s perspective, we’re making mistakes that we know we can sort out. Missing one-on-one tackles at this level just kill you.

Looking ahead to the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens, which take place at Murrayfield Stadium next weekend (Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 June), Gemmell added: “We now have to regroup ahead of Edinburgh and have a real go.

“I would say that my assessment over the weekend is that we have achieved but probably under-performed.

“We think we can achieve more and there’s one more opportunity left for us in Edinburgh. We’ll be working hard in training this week to put things right so that when we turn up next Saturday, we give the Scottish public something to be proud of.”

Australia started with a nicely weighted kick-off and put the pressure on Scotland right from the off. The Scots looked to be organised in defence, but Nick Cummings beat Colin White on the outside to cross for the opening try of the game. Manu Siosefu missed the conversion.

Scotland’s reply came from Mark Robertson, who launch a kick up the midfield and chased. Tim Wright brought Robertson down without the ball and was sent to the sin bin for his efforts.

With Australia a man down, Scotland sent the ball out wide to Ben Addison who was in space, but Scott Forrest’s pass drifted forward and play was brought back.

The Aussies then mounted a counter-attack and, although Max Evans brought the attacker to the floor, the offload found the hands of Luke Burgess who sprinted home to score his seventh try of the weekend. Siosefu again missed the conversion.

Australia almost claimed their third try of the half as a Scott Forrest tap tackle brought play to the floor and Burgess couldn’t get his hand to it for his second of the game.

After the break, lacklustre defending around the fringes saw Burgess evade Forrest’s grasp and send Ben Lucas through, with Max Evans giving chase, Burgess just managed to ground the ball as Evans tried to hold him up.

Replacement Colin Shaw then brought Scotland back into the game as he stormed up the right flank, beating AJ Gilbert for pace and power.

After an impressive period of Scottish possession, Ben Addison almost put the Scots further back into contention as he tried to beat his opponent on the outside, but with a foot in touch, his dive over the line came to no avail.

Scotland 7s squad for the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham (26 & 27 May) and the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s at Murrayfield (2 & 3 June): Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors & Glasgow Hawks), Ben Addison (Glasgow Warriors & Stirling County), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh Rugby & Currie), Simon Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Forrest (Border Reivers & Hawick) CAPTAIN, Calum Forrester (Glasgow Warriors & GHA), Roddy Grant (Border Reivers & Gala), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Robertson (Border Reivers & Melrose), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Colin White (Glasgow Warriors & Ayr)

This article was posted on 27-May-2007, 17:44 by Hugh Barrow.