Try doubles from Mike Adamson and Grant Anderson ensured the Scotland 7s team can return home from the Emirates Airline South Africa with silverware in hand.
The Scots, who had won only one of their three Pool D matches on day one (against Tunisia), today overcame defeat in the bowl quarter-finals against the USA to remain undefeated throughout the final two stages of the Shield event.
Following the prize-giving ceremony, Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell said: “It’s been a hugely disappointing two weeks, and we’re not going to shy away from that, but we now have something to build on.
“This morning’s loss to the USA was perhaps the most disappointing of them all, but we did what we had to do and won back-to-back games in the Shield.
“We’ve learned some lessons during this fortnight, mainly that we need to work as a team at this level. The task for these players now is to go home and work hard on their individual skills so that we’re stronger as a unit next time round because that’s what every other country will be doing.”
The Shield semi-final saw the Scots post a comprehensive 35-12 victory over Zimbabwe.
The Scots immediately romped to a 21-0 half-time lead with tries from Mike Adamson, Colin Shaw and Andrew Turnbull. Adamson converted all three scores.
In the second half, Turnbull grabbed his second before Zimbabwe struck back through Daniel Hondo and Gerald Sibanda.
But the Scots rallied and sealed the win as Turnbull crossed for his hat-trick and Adamson added the extras.
In the final, Mike Adamson came to the rescue as he claimed 18 of the overall tally of 28 points.
The Scots were first to strike when Adamson crossed the line and slotted the conversion.
France leveled the score when Scotland were a man down, Grant Anderson having been sent to the sin bin. France’s Jeremy Sinzelle scored before Paul Albaladejo added the conversion.
With Anderson still serving time on the sideline, the Frenchmen seized the initiative. Yohan Durquet put them in front for the first time. Albaladejo converted.
However, with one of the last plays of the half, Adamson was again the man to keep Scotland’s head above water, crossing for his second try. He added the conversion to give the Scots just a two-point advantage at the break.
In the opening minute of the second half, France’s Albaladejo swapped places with Anderson in the bin.
Anderson immediately sought about redeeming his earlier indiscipline by crossing the whitewash not once, but twice. Adamson converted both tries as the game entered the final five minutes.
Despite Scotland’s dominance, France refused to give up as Renaud Delmas dotted down. Albaladejo converted on his return from the bin but it was too little too late to rip the Shield trophy from Scotland’s grasp.
Scotland 7s squad to compete at the IRB Sevens World Series events in Dubai (5 & 6 December) and George, South Africa (11 & 12 December): Scott Forrest* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson*, Grant Anderson (Ayr)**, Mike Baxter (Bath), James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks)**, Lee Jones (Selkirk), Stuart McInally (Watsonians)**, Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw*, David Tait (Sale Sharks), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)
* = Fulltime Scotland 7s player
** = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy
Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens, Pool D: Scotland, England, Argentina, Tunisia
Scotland 7s’ results at the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens:
Day 1, Pool D, Match 1: Scotland 5 - 15 Argentina
Day 1 Pool D, Match 2: Scotland 26 - 14 Tunisia
Day 1, Pool D, Match 3: Scotland 19 - 29 England
Day 2, Bowl ? Final: Scotland 10 – 21 USA
Day 2, Shield Semi-Final: Zimbabwe 12 – 35 Scotland
Day 2, Shield Final: Scotland 28 - 19 France

This article was posted on 12-Dec-2009, 21:03 by Hugh Barrow.