Fiji put an end to the Springbok Sevens’ aspirations at the Cathay / Hong Kong Sevens early on Sunday morning when they just managed to beat the Blitzboks in the Cup quarter-finals.
The South Africans, still without the experienced Zain Davids due to a broken hand, can hold their heads high though as they could have won the game having led by 7-5 at the break, but in the end Fiji held on for a 10-7 win.
Shaun Williams broke the deadlock in the fourth minute after some good attacking play, with Ricardo Duarttee making it 7-0 to South Africa with the conversion.
Fiji hit back through a long-distance try by Iowane Teba after a defensive mistake by the Blitzboks, but the conversion sailed wide and the South Africans led by two points after a tight first half.
The second half delivered more of the same until Napolioni Bolaca scored Fiji’s second after they found some space on the right.
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The Blitzboks then threw everything they had into the encounter and were hot on the attack in the Fijian 22 when the referee ruled obstruction, after which the experienced islanders simply ran the clock down to book their spot in the semi-finals.
South Africa’s next game is against the USA in the fifth-place semi-final.
Scorers:
Springbok Sevens 7 (7) Fiji 10 (5)
Springbok Sevens – Try: Shaun Williams. Conversion: Ricardo Duarttee.
Fiji – Tries: Iowane Teba, Napolioni Bolaca.
