England won all three of their pool game matches to top their pool on day one of the LA Sevens. Please see below all three match reports.

MATCH THREE:

England right some wrongs from Wellington as they beat France and top the pool in LA

England 24
France 19

This weekend it was England’s turn to come out on top, as they beat France 24-19, and went some way to making up for the disappointment of losing to the French last weekend in Wellington.

However, it was not a straight forward match with a total of three yellow cards and two penalty tries meaning England had to fight hard to secure their victory.

The match did not begin well for England as within the opening minutes France had been awarded a penalty try and Ben Gollings had been sent to the sin bin for two minutes.  England then went further behind when, despite some frantic defending from David Strettle leading to an England line out, Julien Malzieu crossed the line taking France to a 12-0 lead.

It was down to Luke Narraway to reduce the gap as a great break from David Strettle set up a try for the Gloucester back row player.

Andy Vilk set up England’s second try but it was Strettle who crossed the line this time, neatly stepping to evade the French defence.  England led 14-12 at the break.

Malzieu was sin binned early in the second half and England took full advantage of the period, with Strettle scoring again – his sixth of the tournament so far.  Ben Gollings took England to a more comfortable 24-12 lead but in the final moments of the game, a yellow card to Mathew Tait (the first of his career), enabled France to receive a second penalty try, leaving the final score as 24-19.

Speaking after the match, England Sevens Coach Mike Friday said, “The players did what they needed to do and were accurate in their skills and better in their decision making.  It was not a good start for England but despite being 12-0 down, we kept our focus and discipline on the pitch, and were patient.  The win this week has put some demons to rest from Wellington, but it still doesn’t make up for the disappointment of losing last week.  What it has shown is that when this young squad applies itself, they are hard to beat.”

England now face Argentina, who narrowly lost to Fiji in their final pool game match. Friday said, “It will be an extremely difficult quarter final. The Argentineans are notoriously physical and are a team who do not know how to give up.  They are very competitive and have won the tournament here before.  We have our work cut out.  But it’s a new day and a new challenge and we have to apply themselves.  This is a young squad and they are constantly learning that they have to prepare and apply themselves three times a day during the tournament.  If they can do that then there is no reason why we can’t go out there and win this tournament.”

England topped their pool having beaten Kenya (26-5) and USA (45-0) earlier in the day.  (See below for the match reports.)

England play Argentina at 11.28 local tomorrow (Sunday) (7.28pm GMT).

Scorers:

England – Tries: Narraway, Strettle (2), Gollings

Conversions: Gollings (2)

France – Penalty tries (2); Try – Malzieu

Conversions – Kopetzky (2)

England:

Luke Narraway (Gloucester), Dave Seymour (Saracens), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Paul (Gloucester) Captain, David Strettle (Rotherham), Ben Gollings, Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints)

Replacements: Nils Mordt (London Irish), Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Luger

Replacements not used: Will Matthews (Gloucester), Danny Care (Leeds Tykes)

France:

From Khrist Kopetzky, Renaud Dulin, Jean Paul Dubois, Nicolas Carmona, Julien Malzieu, Remi Vaquin, Jordan Garnier, Vincent Roux, Jerome Naves, Julien Patey, Patrick Bosque, Jacques Boussuge

Ends.

MATCH TWO:  

England upset hosts with decisive victory over USA in LA Sevens

England 45
USA 0

England put on a good show in their second pool stage match in the LA Sevens today, beating hosts USA 45-0.  England scored seven tries (including a hat trick for Rotherham’s David Strettle) in the second of their pool stage matches on day one in Los Angeles.

England took a little while to warm up but once Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints) had got onto the score sheet it wasn’t long before his team mates joined him.  The USA defended well in the opening minutes of the match, and England had to be patient before Vilk finally crossed the try line.  David Strettle followed suit with Ben Gollings scoring England’s third try before the break.

David Strettle displayed some fine footwork when scoring his second and with his hat trick coming soon after it looked as if he was going to repeat his five try tally of Wellington.  However, he was substituted before he got the chance, and Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons) came on.

Substitute Nils Mordt (London Irish) scored England’s sixth try and Ben Gollings finished things off with his second try of the match.

England will be relieved to have made it two wins from two matches, and can now concentrate on their final pool game match against France tonight.

Scorers:

England: Tries – Vilk, Strettle (3), Gollings (2), Mordt

Conversions – Gollings (5)

England:

Luke Narraway (Gloucester), Dave Seymour (Saracens), Danny Care (Leeds Tykes), Henry Paul (Gloucester) Captain, David Strettle (Rotherham), Ben Gollings, Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints)

Replacements: Nils Mordt (London Irish), Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Luger

Replacements not used: Will Matthews (Gloucester), Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons),

USA:

From Todd Clever, Jarvis Albury, Kevin Whitcher, Chad Erskine, Jone Naqica, Justin Stencel, Mike Palefau, Andrew Ryland, Dave Anderson, Joseph Killefer, Jason Pye, Mose Timoteo

Ends.

MATCH ONE:

England stay strong to beat Kenya in opening match of LA Sevens

England 26
Kenya 5

England played well to keep the Kenyans at bay in Los Angeles today, beating them 26-5.  England were forced to play with just six men in the final minutes of the match when  an injury to Will Matthews (Gloucester) forced him to retire, and all three of England’s substitutes were already on the field.

England started well with a try by Dave Seymour (Saracens), closely followed by a second by Luke Narraway (Gloucester).  Danny Care, the 19 year old scrum half from Leeds, successfully converted both tries.

Kenya looked strong in attack but England defended well and Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons) scored England’s third try for England before the break.

Will Matthews replaced Narraway at half time and England extended their lead early in the second half with a try from David Strettle (Rotherham). 

Allan Makaka of Kenya was then sent to the sin bin meaning England had a one man advantage on the field. Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons) and Dan Luger came on to relieve Nils Mordt (London Irish) and David Strettle) but just moments later, Matthews was forced to retire from the field.

The Kenyans made the most of the unusual circumstances and fought back finally scoring a try (Dennis Mwanja) which they failed to convert, meaning England won the match 26 5. 

Scorers:

England: Tries – Seymour, Narraway, Tait, Strettle

Conversions – Care (3)

Kenya: Try - Mwanja

England:

Luke Narraway (Gloucester), Nils Mordt (London Irish), Dave Seymour (Saracens), Danny Care (Leeds Tykes), Henry Paul (Gloucester) Captain, Mathew Tait (Newcastle Falcons), David Strettle (Rotherham)

Replacements: Will Matthews (Gloucester), Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Luger

Replacements not used: Ben Gollings, Andy Vilk (Northampton Saints)

Kenya:

From Felix Clement, Peter Claver Abuoga, Dennis Mwanja, Victor Sudi Simiyu, Patrick Onyango, Allan Makak, Brian Nyikuli, Allan Onyango, Gibson Weru Kathuthia, Lavin Asego, Sidney Ashioya, Peter Ocholla

Ends.