Originally posted by IRB Sevens Website
In one of the most heart-racing, topsy-turvy finales to a Sevens tournament, England beat Fiji in the dying seconds 26-24 to take the Cathay Pacific/ Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens and - just as importantly - close the gap in the race for the IRB Sevens crown.
Ben Gollings, mysteriously overlooked in Melbourne, was England's saviour, dashing over at the last to take England level, and converting the try to the extasy of the thousands of England fans.
Varndell put England ahead early on, but Daunivucu hit back. Gollings scored, then Tait for a 19-7 England lead, but Fiji hit back strongly.
Tries for Dranivasa, Naevo and Ryder edged the Fijians into what looked a winning lead, only for England to break up field through Seymour and gain the valuable possession they needed to allow Gollings to scamper in virtually unopposed.
The victory takes England to 90 points overall, just six points behind the Fijians on 96. South Africa lie on 70 points and New Zealand on 56.
Fiji were to first to book their place in the final when they beat New Zealand to make their fifth final out of five this season. Tries for Volavola (2), Bolavucu and Dranivasa put Serevi's men 28-0 up by half time and, although New Zealand fought back with tries from captain Ioasa and Hunt, a late Nanuku effort made the final score 35-10. Fiji had earlier come from behind to beat Scotland. New Zealand, had made the semis after Cory Jane inspired them to a win over Australia.
England then overcame South Africa 24-0 in a passion-filled match. First Tait sprinted the length of the pitch to score under the posts, before Mdaka scored for South Africa, only for his try to be disallowed after play came back for a Jonny Mokwena yellow card. Simon Amor stretched England to a 12-0 half time lead - hard on South Africa skipper Jaco Pretorius, whose defence was almost single-handedly keeping South Africa in the match. Varndell and Strettle - together with Bolavucu vying for the honour of fastest man in the tournament - both scored after the break to stetch the lead to 24-0, and although Juries tried and tried, England held their lines.
