Day to forget for Scots in Cape Town
Scotland suffered a dramatic 24-21 extra-time defeat by Chile yesterday on Day Two of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town and can now end up no higher than 15th in the final standings.
After going 14-0 behind early on to the South Americans in the Challenge 13th-16th-place match, Ciaran Beattie’s
(inset) side narrowed the gap just before half-time with a try by
Femi Sofolarin and
conversion from Matt Davidson.
They then took control in the second half with tries from
Jamie Farndale and Callum Young, both converted by Davidson, to give them a sevenpoint lead going into the last play of regulation time.
But then, after heavy pressure close to the Scots’ line, the Chileans seized on a loose ball to touch down, and converted too to take the game into sudden-death extra-time. They had the first chance to win the contest in time added on, and they took it when they were awarded a penalty.
It was a cruel end to the game for Scotland after coming so close to winning, but Chile perhaps just deserved to go through.
They were more inventive and adventurous in open play, and had a touch more energy when it mattered most.
Scotland will now play Wales this afternoon for 15th place at the end of what has been a disappointing tournament for them.
They began well enough on Friday, beating Jamaica in the preliminary round of the main Championship. But defeat by New Zealand in the round of 16 saw them drop down to the secondary Challenge competition.
The winners of that tournament finish ninth overall, but the Scots’ hopes of doing that were dashed when they were beaten 24-5 by Kenya in yesterday’s early match.
A Kaleem Barreto try provided their only points in that game, but the score came too late to make a difference.