Borneo Eagles win Rugby Sevens tourney
Published on: Monday, March 02, 2015
Sandakan: ERC Borneo Eagles had broken their 7 years jinx by clinching the Borneo Sevens International Clubs Cup in an exciting final tie against 2013 champion, Fiji's Daveta, here, Sunday.It was a heart stopping finale where the Eagles managed to hold out for a 22-,21 victory against the defending champion.The high tempo match started off with Daveta striking the first blood when Luke Mavuwai's perfectly timed run scored a try and Waisea Macuqu converted the kick to break the deadlock.
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Daveta doubled their advantage moments later when Macuqu sprinted off for another try and converted the kick himself for a 14-0 lead.Having last won the trophy back in 2007, Eagles fought back with a try from Pio Tuwai with Rocky Khan converting the kick to trail 7-14.With the home crowd cheering them on, Eagles managed to level things out 14-14 after Michael Andrew Little muscled his way through for a try and Khan stepped up for the conversion.Their determination to win back the trophy paid off when they took the lead through Luke Masirewa's try but Khan unable to convert the kick and finish the half with a 19-14 lead.
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During the second half, Eagles tried to seal off the tie but Daveta's defense was unbreakable right until the Eagles was awarded a penalty after a foul where skipper, Khan coolly converted the kick for three points to stretch their lead 22-14.Daveta gave themselves a fighting chance late in the match when Iliesa Ratuva scored a try and Macuqu converted the kick but it was all too late as the Eagles managed to hold on to win the cup.
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Playing in his third finals as an Eagles, skipper Khan said "We got a good bunch of boys this time around who showed their quality to win the tournament that we haven't won for quite some time"."Full credits to the boys for coming back from 14-0 down after Daveta came out firing early in the match but as the game heated up, we know we had to up the ante and crucially we did, so it was fantastic result in the end," he added.In other matches, Hong Kong men's national team won the inaugural Borneo Sevens Asia Pacific Cross Regional Cup after sweeping off Tonga in the final 24-0.Three first half tries by Hong Kong gave them a 17-0 half time lead and they seal off the cup by adding a try late in the second half.Women's category saw Japan put on a show for the crowds as they beat favorite China 27-7 in a final where Japan's fast pace and organized formation overwhelmed their opponent.Team Manager, Akane Kagawa said that they were happy with the win especially against a strong team like China and now they will focus their attention to their next tournament, the Hong Kong 7s.Also in the Under-16s Cup, Australia's Southern Lions Outlaws displayed an outstanding first half show to beat local talents, SRU Academy, 37-7.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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