Kiwi side romps away to win sevens tournament

Kiwi side romps away to win sevens tournament

Hot favourites NZ4Nations stormed to victory in the 18th Bangkok Rugby Sevens Tournament yesterday after an emphatic 53-7 win over the Hong Kong Lions at the Police Stadium.

It was a lively day of entertaining rugby which included possibly the first case of 'Lizard Stops Play' in a Thai rugby tournament.

The New Zealand team put on a superlative display of attacking rugby throughout the tournament and were deserved winners of the Colonel's Cup.

The Kiwis carried their form into the final and three converted tries saw them move swiftly into a 21-0 lead. Just before the break, Hong Kong showed great determination to go over for a try, the first points conceded by their opponents throughout the tournament. They were not about to concede any more, however, and ran out comfortable winners, picking up 32 more points in the second half.

In the semi finals, NZ4 had beaten the promising young Thai team, Shambhala 46-0, while the Lions overcame the Thai Police 19-12 in a much tighter game.

The second semi-final was temporarily delayed in somewhat unusual circumstances when a monitor lizard decided to take an afternoon stroll down the middle of the pitch and refused to budge, despite being shown a red card by the brave referee. Eventually the creature was lured into a sack and play was able to resume.

The Baker Tilly Thailand Plate was won by the Kazakhstan team Olymp, which turned on a very good display in the final to beat Australia's Lloyd McDermott 28-7.

In an entertaining tussle between two Thai teams, it was Chiang Mai Suas who came out on top in the Tenderloins Bowl with a hard-fought 15-5 victory.

There was another good game in the Air Astana Shield, with Parinya Professional, a police side, overcoming a spirited Pattaya Panthers team 33-12. The Check Inn 99 Women's Cup Final saw a speedy Srinakarinwirot University team defeat Thammasatklongluang 14-0 in a lively game.

As always, the tournament was well organised by David Dufall _ better known as 'The Colonel' _ and his wife Kate. Sadly it appears to be their last tournament and their efforts will be badly missed by the rugby fraternity, both in Bangkok and overseas.

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