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Scotland 7s (19) v (17) USA 7s The Scotland 7s team recorded a victory over USA in their opening game of the IRB Sevens World Series event in Hong Kong despite being welcomed in So Kon Po by heavy rain.
Speaking after the game, Scotland coach Stephen Gemmell said: “It was always going to be a tight game against the USA, and with the conditions being so poor, it was tighter than both teams had expected.
“We showed good character to come back after half-time and good discipline to seal the win.
“Kenya beat the West Indies 17-10 today so it’s a very tight section, we now need to get our recovery right and make sure our preparation is spot on ahead of a big day tomorrow.”
The eighth and final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series takes place in Scotland at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival at Murrayfield on 30 & 31 May.
Tickets for each day - priced at £15 for adults, £10 for students and senior citizens and £5 for under 18s – are available to purchase by logging onto www.scottishrugbytickets.com, by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0131 346 5100 (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday) or in person from the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).
The Americans were first to find the score-board with a converted try as both sides battled to get to grips with the difficult conditions. However, it wasn’t long before Glasgow Warriors back Hefin O’Hare struck back with a try of his own. Edinburgh fullback/centre Calum MacRae added the extras.
The USA edged back in front with an unconverted try just before the break to give them a neat half-time advantage.
Half-time score: Scotland 7s 7, USA 7s 12
Roddy Grant crossed the whitewash to get Scotland back on level terms. MacRae converted to take the lead.
O’Hare touched down for his second score, although this time MacRae couldn’t find the target with the conversion.
USA dotted down in the final minutes of the game, however, Scotland breathed a sigh of relief as the conversion attempt went wide of the posts.
Final score: Scotland 7s 19, USA 7s 17
Scotland 7s team v USA: Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)*, Calum MacRae (Edinburgh), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors)
Hong Kong Pool F: Kenya, USA, Scotland, West Indies
Scotland 7s’ Pool F fixtures at the IRB Hong Kong Sevens (27-29 March):
Day 1 – Scotland v USA, kick-off 7:10pm HKT, 11:10am GMT
Day 2 – Kenya v Scotland, kick-off 12:42pm HKT, 4:42am GMT
Day 2 – Scotland v West Indies, kick-off 2:54pm HKT, 6:54am GMT |
