This put them up against Fugro Wanderers in the quarterfinals.
Riyadh Warriors played Dubai Exiles with a verve and energy of a team that after the tribulations of a new team trying to find its style had finally matured into a cohesive unit.
In a game of considerable physicality, coordinated teamwork and extremely good spirit toward their opponents they triumphed 26 – 5. This put them into the quarterfinals as well against Dubai Hurricanes. Rising star Faisal Moathe scored two tries, one in a very determined charge to ground in Dubai’s corner and a second that blew their defense wide open to leave him free to trot between their posts to touch down. It is the first time two Saudi teams have reached this level of the Gulf Men’s open challenge and held great promise for some Sevens silverware coming to the Kingdom at last.
Sadly, the third Saudi based team, Riyadh Falcons, were tumbled by Barrel House Yobs in a very competitive game that saw the play ebb and flow the full length of the field with Barrel House winning 33-19.
Perhaps three Saudi teams in the quarterfinals was just too much to hope for. The international competition burst into action on Friday with the reigning world champions Wales setting out their stall with a slow start against Scotland. The Scots Andrew Turnbull scored a converted try in the first half and left Wales trailing 7-0 at the half way mark.
However tries in three minutes from Tom Prydie and Will Price in the second half saw the champions through.
Fiji, much fancied to remove Wales crown bowled Argentine over 40 to 7 in their best style. 14 points to 7 up at half time, they had a little chat at the interval and came out with turbo engaged. Despite Argentina’s immensely spirited defense and phenomenal tackling of the less weighty men on the Fijian forward, it amounted to nought. The immense strength and stamina of this year’s Fijian seven is awesome to behold and they will take huge amount of stopping. The combination of experience and physical power is very impressive and, combined with their victory in the first round of the series in the Gold Coast, justifies their position as favorites.
However, when Samoa encountered the rampant Fijians the traditional tension between the two Pacific island nations flared to and exchange of blows that saw one each Samoan Ualre Mai and Fijian Sitiveni Waqa sent of and another Fiji player sent to the sin bin. Nonetheless, Fiji triumphed 31-14.
The traditional favorites to win the Sevens, New Zealand encountered South Africa. In a jaw-dropping upset the antipodeans never looked like winning the South African side ran rings around them displaying remarkable handling and passing skills and bursts of acceleration that left the physically larger New Zealand side bobbing in their wake. South Africa won by a convincing 21-5.
The long awaited pitting of France against England brought the highly partisan crowd to its feet. The first half of a match played at full stretch saw the sides even at the interval 12 points all with a converted and unconverted try to each sides account.
The second half opened with the formidable Dan Norton going over after just 50 seconds and following up with another to bring his total including one in the first to three.
Having won their group, England start the final date with a match against New Zealand – an interesting prospect as the will still be stinging after their defeat against South Africa.
