Scotland clinch World Sevens Cup with late Fife tries
Clermont move closer to Top 14 playoff bye
LONDON, May 23, (Agencies): Scotland’s Dougie Fife scored two tries in the final two minutes as they snatched a thrilling 27-26 victory over South Africa to claim their first World Rugby Sevens Series Cup at Twickenham on Sunday.
With the clock ticking down, the Scots looked beaten as they trailed 21-10 and then 26-15 with 30 seconds left.
James Fleming started the revival and, after Rosko Specman appeared to secure a Boks’ victory, two moments of last-gasp magic from player of the final Fife won Scotland the title in their first appearance in a final. Their previous best position in a World Series event was fourth.
“We were a long way behind in the final but the boys stuck on task and we managed to get over the line at the end,” said Scotland captain Scott Wight. “It took a massive amount of effort and I’m honoured to say I’m captain of this side.”
Fife, who has won six Test caps for Scotland, said: “It is just an unbelievable feeling. This team have come a long way and we believe we can beat anyone on our day. I think we surprised a few people today.”
Fiji came fourth after losing 26-19 to the United States in the third-place playoff but go into August’s Rio Olympics as World Series champions — and top
Parra
seeds — having secured enough points on Saturday. It was their second straight world title.
South Africa and New Zealand finished second and third in the standings behind Fiji to claim a top-three Olympic seeding.
Top 14 leaders Clermont edged closer towards clinching a semi-final place in the end-of-season playoffs after routing defending champions Stade Francais 36-10 at home on Sunday.
Morgan Parra racked up 18 points with the boot and crossed the whitewash for a second-half try, with Australian hooker John Ulugia also dotting down after Clermont were awarded a penalty try.
Clermont, who were beaten by Stade in last year’s final, remained six points clear at the summit ahead of the last two rounds of matches with Toulon and Montpellier both locked on 77 points and European Cup runners-up Racing 92 also qualified for the playoffs.
“We managed the game well, Stade didn’t come here to be walked all over. We were able to adapt to the weather conditions as well as adversity,” said Clermont coach Franck Azema.
“Morgan Parra is having a good season, it’s night and day with the start of
Scotland players celebrate with the trophy after winning the final of the World Rugby Sevens Series-London, rugby union
tournament between Scotland and South Africa, at Twickenham in south west London on May 22, (AFP)
the championship,” he added, saluting the display of the France scrum-half.
Mahe Fonua crossed for a double as Hull FC moved out in front on their own at the top of the Super League table with a 28-16 derby day win over Hull KR in the final game of the Magic Weekend on Sunday.
The Black and Whites came into the last game of an enthralling weekend of action at St James’ Park, that saw an all-time record crowd of 68,276 fans across both days for the 10th anniversary of the event, knowing victory would break a four-way tie at the top of the standings.
Former Melbourne Storm flyer Fonua bagged a double for Lee Radford’s side and it was Mark Minichiello’s try late on that rubber-stamped the victory.
The Robins had threatened to walk off with the bragging rights when Shaun Lunt and Graeme Horne’s tries — allied to the boot of Terry Campese — put them 16-10 in front with the hour mark approaching.
But Hull FC were not to be denied and have now given themselves a two-point cushion at the summit.
In the second match which was played on Sunday, Jermaine McGillvary bagged a double as second-frombottom Huddersfield put in an impressive performance to beat St Helens 48-20.
McGillvary opened the scoring before two tries in three minutes from Ukuma Ta’ai and Jamie Ellis put the Giants in full control.
St Helens found a way into the game before half time through Matty Dawson, but tries from McGillvary, Sam Rapira and Aaron Murphy piled more misery on their opponents after the break.