England 21

Australia 5

England's cricketers are on top down under at the Adelaide Oval and it was the same story in Dubai when England beat Australia 21 5 in the quarter finals of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens.  England now need to overcome a tough South African squad in the semi finals in their quest for a third successive Dubai title. 

England Sevens Coach Mike Friday admitted he was pleased that England had beaten their rivals.  “The Australians have beaten us the last two times we have met and so everyone was fired up to beat them this morning.  All the boys have been keeping up to date with the cricket score from Australia and it is great news for England fans of either sport that today seems to be England’s day over Australia.”

Playing in the worst rain that Dubai has seen for 13 years, England led the attack in the opening few minutes, but it was Australia who took the lead when Australia crossed the line.  The determined crowd got behind England and as Swing Low resounded around the swamp like Dubai Exiles Ground, NEC Harlequins winger David Strettle managed to score.  A successful conversion by IRB Sevens Leading Points Scorer Ben Gollings meant England were ahead.  The conditions made for a messy game with several missed opportunities and plenty of knock ons thanks to the slippery ball, best illustrated by Australia’s missed opportunity over the line before the break. 

It was down to Strettle to score again in the second half before experienced sevens player Gollings widened the gap with his first try of the day.  His third successful conversion meant that Australia may have taken the spoils in the team’s last two meetings but today was England’s day as the match finished 21 5.

England play South Africa in the semi finals at 18.42 (local / 14.42 GMT).  Fiji play New Zealand in the other semi final.

England:

Simon Amor (London Wasps), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Ben Gollings, James Haskell (London Wasps), David Strettle (NEC Harlequins), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)

Replacements: David Doherty (London Wasps), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Rob Thirlby (Gloucester)

Not used: Dom Shabbo (London Irish), Marcel Garvey (Worcester)

Australia:

Andy Rasmus, Tim Atkinson, Corey Niwa, David Dillon, Nathan Trist, Tim Cornforth, Nick Cummins

Replacements: James Campbell, Edward Brenac, James Lew, Dominic Fuller, Brett Stapleton

Tries – England: Strettle (2), Gollings

Conversions: Gollings (3)

Referee: James Jones (Wales)

Ends.