Saturday 26th May 2007
England 17
South Africa 14
England Sevens had more success than their senior counterparts against South Africa tonight beating them 17 14 in a tense affair at Twickenham, but England are still knocked out of the Cup competition. The loss to Wales earlier in the day, and the points deficit, meant that England came third in their pool and face Kenya in the bowl tournament tomorrow despite a hat trick by NEC Harlequins and England Under 20s captain Danny Care.
England began well and they scored an early try to put them in the lead. England's defence then came into its own with a last second tackle by Amor and Roques to stop the Springboks equalising. England have not beaten South Africa this season and the pressure of the home crowd meant it was a highly charged match and despite England's strong defence, the South Africans scored under the posts. It was 7 all at the break.
Much of the early play in the second half was within the South Africa try line but despite England's attack England couldn't get the ball away from their line. They managed to score again to take them into the lead. A high tackle and subsequent yellow card meant South Africa were down to six men and England seized the opportunity to score with Danny Care getting a try just on the edge of the pitch. Captain Simon Amor was unable to convert and it was 12 14 with the end of the match approaching. It was down to Care again to cross the line and put England into the lead but the earlier results went against England and they were out of the Cup competition.
Speaking after the match Ben Ryan, England Coach, said, "We needed to win by three tries and are gutted not to have progressed to the cup competition. Bowls and plates are for eating on not for playing for in my eyes and we are not looking forward to tomorrow and not being in the Cup competition at Twickenham. We all have to go back tonight and take a long hard look at ourselves for our performance today. I am proud at the way the boys came out tonight and won the game but it just wasn't good enough in the end."
England face Kenya in the Bowl quarter final at 11.22 tomorrow.
England: Isoa Damudamu (Newbury Blues / British Army), Tony Roques (Exeter / Cornish Pirates), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), Danny Care (NEC Harlequins), Rob Thirlby (Redruth), Simon Amor, captain (London Wasps)
Reps: Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins), Ben Russell (Saracens)
Not used: Tom Williams (NEC Harlequins), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Noah Cato (Saracens).
Earlier...
England 0
Wales 22
England suffered a disappointing defeat to Wales in their second pool game at Twickenham today, giving them a massive challenge if they are progress in the Cup competition tomorrow. Ben Ryan's young side must now beat a strong South African side to achieve their aim of competing in the top tier competition in their only home tournament of the IRB Sevens series.
England started well with a positive, attacking few minutes culminating in what should have been a straight forward try under the posts for Damudamu. However, a delay in grounding the ball led to Wales seizing the opportunity to kick the ball out of Damudamu's hand meaning no try for England.
This set the tone for the whole match as Wales then scored two quick tries in the first half and led 10 0 at the break.
England struggled to recover in the second half and captain Simon Amor was sin binned for a feisty exchange with the opposition. With England down to six men, and without their leader, the youngsters panicked and let in another try.
Wales, who have have performed well in all their recent IRB Sevens outings, scored a final try to bang home a victory of 22 0 against the home nation.
England face South Africa at 17.58 this evening.
England: Isoa Damudamu (Newbury Blues / British Army), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks), Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Danny Care (NEC Harlequins), Simon Amor, Captain (London Wasps)
Reps: Ben Russell (Saracens), Tom Williams (NEC Harlequins), Rob Thirlby (Redruth)
Not used: Tony Roques (Exeter Chiefs / Cornish Pirates), Noah Cato (Saracens)
Ends.
Earlier...
England 19
Portugal 14
England took a few minutes to find their feet this morning in their opening pool game at the Emirates Airline London Sevens but earned a 19 14 victory over Portugal in the end. Redruth's Rob Thirlby scored two tries in two minutes in the second half to help secure England their win.
Portugal had the majority of the early possession and scored first but Sale Sharks scrum half Ben Foden soon equalled the scores - celebrating his return to England Sevens duty. Foden has not played for England Sevens since last year's Twickenham Sevens when he injured his foot. It was a scrappy first half with mistakes on both sides as both teams took some time to find their feet.
Thirlby's score in the second half pushed England into the lead, and his second try of the match came in typically exciting sevens fashion as he stumbled over the branding on the try line but managed to ground the ball. New cap Noah Cato of Saracens got his first run on as a replacement for Thirlby.
A late try for Esteves meant Portugal came back to within a score but the final hooter when and England's victory was safe.
England face Wales at 14.40.
England:
Tony Roques (Exeter/Cornish Pirates), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Ben Russell (Saracens), Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), Danny Care (NEC Harlequins), Rob Thirlby (Redruth), Simon Amor, captain (London Wasps)
Reps: Noah Cato (Saracens), Tom Williams (NEC Harlequins), Michael Hills (Sale Sharks)
Not used: Isoa Damudamu (Newbury Blues / British Army), Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins)
Scorers:
England - Tries: Foden, Thirlby (2)
Conversions - Amor (2)
Portugal:
Diogo Mateus, Tiagro Girao, Pedro Leal, Pedro Cabral, Pedro Silva, Goncalo Foro, David Mateus
Reps from: Sebastiao de Cunha, Aderito Esteves, Francisco Mira, Diogo Miranda, Francisco Sepulveda
Ends.
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