As eyes were on the Twickers Sevens our European correspondent was keeping a watch on events in Amsterdam where Graham Harkness was performing with distinction
Graham was in the Samurai International squad who won the event for the sixth time

Samurai make it six in a row at Amsterdam Sevens
Monday 24 May 2010 (UR7s)

Samurai, favourites heading to the inaugural National Sevens Series, proved totally dominant in a one-sided Silver Pier final beating English side Old Millfield Boys 44-7 at the Sportpark de Eendrach.

The winners, who were coached my former England international Peter Richards, blew Millfield away with seven tries to conclude the traditionally stamina sapping weekend - the 39th running of the event.

Kiwi Carl Murray captained the team that also included Spanish international and recently departed Sale Shark, Oriol Ripol.

Samurai yet again faced perennial semi-final challengers Gilbert Pups in the last four. The courageous Pups pushed the champions to the limit but agonisingly just missed out, going down 19-14.

Millfield were the surprise package of the weekend and put an in an outstanding performance to beat the HFW Wailers, last year’s runners-up, 17-14 in an absorbing semi-final.

In the quarter-finals they got the better of another National Sevens Series team, White Hart Marauders, with a convincing 24-7 win that gave them plenty of belief.

In the other last-eight ties, the Wailers brushed aside Mels Exiles (33-0) while the Pups were again forced to dig deep to summon a win again the Templars (19-17). Samurai faced Denmark’s CSR-Nanok in their quarter-final coming through 31-12.

The Marauders can take solace from their older generation though who were the impressive winners of the Veterans Tens tournaments. The Marauders have been in the final every year since the Veterans 10s became an integral part of the Amsterdam Sevens.

They beat a Pacific Chiefs side that included Henry Paul, Mike Umaga, and Trevor Leota, 17-14 in a tight final. The Chiefs will be again be in action this summer as an invited side for the National Sevens Series leg at Manchester.

In the Men’s Sevens Heineken Boot Final the Dambusters beat Eemland Lucky Lukes 22-14 to take the silverware.

In the ladies competition WOP, the Dutch national side, beat Spain to the major honours with a 19-5 win. WOP had earlier delighted the home fans with a 38-5 win over Olymp with Spain comfortably beating Casale Ladies to book their place.

This article was originally posted on 25-May-2010, 12:49 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-May-2010, 13:27.