ENGLAND SEVENS FINISH JOINT SEVENTH IN LAS VEGAS
England Sevens finished joint seventh at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series in Las Vegas.
As the competition progressed to day three, England faced a New Zealand side who were also beaten in the Cup quarter-final.
Simon Amor’s side levelled the game twice but an injury-time score for the Kiwis saw them progress to the fifth-place play-off with a 19-14 win, as England finished in the same position for the third tournament in a row.
England are in action again next weekend in Canada for the Vancouver leg of the World Series over 10-11 March.
Following England’s defeat to hosts USA in the last eight, they met New Zealand who lost to Fiji in the last play of their quarter-final game.
England had the better of the opening exchanges but a New Zealand break saw Ngarohi McGarvery Black able to dot down under the sticks.
Ruaridh McConnochie’s fancy footwork saw England respond shortly after as he stepped inside and out to level the game, which is how it stayed until half-time as it sat 7-7.
A Phil Burgess break was cut out by New Zealand and McGarvery Black raced down the right wing unopposed for his second score, but Dan Norton capitalised on the opposition having a man sent to the sin bin to bring it all square again.
With the time dead, there was heartbreak for England as Dylan Collier grabbed the ball off the back of a ruck and crossed out wide.
“It’s disappointing to lose yet another one of the last plays – we won all of those close ones last year but this season we can’t quite get on the right side of the score lines,” said head of England Sevens Simon Amor.
“The effort was excellent today and you can’t fault how hard people are working across the board.
“I’m really pleased with the progress of how we’re playing the game. We’re building nicely towards the Commonwealth Games so I’m confident that as soon as we get that first close game over the line that will be the trigger for us to keep on pushing as we head towards the Gold Coast.”
England sat top of the pool after the first two games on day one following a couple of impressive attacking displays in their opening two matches.
Richard De Carpentier’s two tries as well as a long range effort from Ollie Lindsay-Hague were part of England’s six tries they racked up in a 42-12 victory against Canada in their opener.
Tom Bowen then ran in a hat-trick in the 33-12 win over Wales, with Tom Mitchell and all-time leading try scorer Dan Norton also crossing.
On day two in the pool decider against South Africa in another a tight game, England lost 19-24 despite Dan Bibby’s two tries.
In their Cup quarter-final tie, England went down to a narrow 12-17 loss as Perry Baker scored a hat-trick for hosts USA.
England Sevens squad for Las Vegas:
Dan Bibby
Tom Bowen
Phil Burgess
Richard de Carpentier
Mike Ellery
Harry Glover
Ollie Lindsay-Hague R
uaridh McConnochie
Tom Mitchell ©
James Rodwell
Dan Norton
Ethan Waddleton
13th man: Will Edwards
England’s Las Vegas results:
England 40-12 Canada
Tries: Phil Burgess, Richard de Carpentier (2), Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Tom Bowen, Tom Mitchell
England 33-12 Wales
Tries: Tom Bowen (3), Tom Mitchell, Dan Norton
England 19-24 South Africa
Tries: Tom Mitchell, Dan Bibby (2)
Cup quarter final:
England 12-17 USA
Tries: Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Dan Norton
Fifth-place semi-final:
England 14-19 New Zealand
Tries: Ruaridh McConnochie, Dan Norton
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