England retain Dubai 7s title

Dubai: New Zealand's Gordon Tietjens, generally regarded as a fair judge of a rugby player, believes Tom Varndell is the fastest man he has ever seen on a rugby field.

And the Leicester winger's extraordinary acceleration and finishing prowess helped spur England to a second successive Emirates International Trophy triumph over Fiji in front of a sell-out 30,000 crowd at the Dubai Exiles.

Varndell claimed two tries in his side's 28-26 triumph but this was a victory based on a commanding team performance while Ben Gollings also rose to the occasion in magnificent style with vital touchdowns either side of half time.

Fiji were actually first on the board in the opening leg of the new IRB Series through a piece of brilliance from Jone Daunivucu before Varndell scorched away from deep in his own half to put his side back on level terms.

Mika Leawere then put Fiji, conquerors of IRB World Series Champions New Zealand in the quarters, ahead before Gollings showed why he is the leading points scorer in this form of the game with two quality scores of his own from close range either side of the break.

Varndell's second score owed much to brilliant work by Mathew Tait, who committed the Fiji defence and timed his pass to perfection, allowing his team-mate to coast over wide on the right.

And although the islanders pulled back a converted try in the final seconds through William Ryder, it came too late to change the final result.

Varndell said: "We really deserved it.

"I don't think I've ever played in an atmosphere like it, it was just amazing."

Fiji coach Waisale Serevi said: "We improved our defence from Thursday. We defended well against New Zealand and South Africa but we were outplayed by England."

England so nearly did not make it to the final. Samoa opted to take England on physically and then defended bravely after Bryce broke Henry Paul's tackle for the first try of the game, in the opening minute of the second period. It was almost enough for victory before England finally broke through the barricades with Varndell, who else, racing over on the left and, crucially, making the angle slightly easier for Simon Amor to add the decisive winning conversion with the last kick of the game.

New Zealand overcame the disappointment of their quarterfinal reverse to earn the consolation prize of the plate, overcoming France 19-7.

The Bowl final was won by Wales, who were grateful to Aled Brew for a fine individual effort against Canada.

The youngster produced a tremendous turn of pace to race over from the halfway line to put his side 10-5 up in the second half and then turned provider as James Merriman wrapped up a 19-5 success.

In the shield final, Lavin Asego's second half try edged Kenya to a 10-7 triumph over Tunisia, whose converted try came from Lotfi Nino.

The Arabian Gulf, meanwhile, put up another spirited effort on the second day of the tournament. A battling try from Paul Austin ensured his side turned around level at 7-7 in their Bowl quarterfinal with Wales before James Hook completed a hat-trick of tries for the Wales, who won 24-7.

Results

Emirates Trophy Final:
England 28 Fiji 26

Semifinals:
Fiji 17 South Africa 7
England 7 Samoa 5

Quarterfinals:
New Zealand 14 Fiji 17
South Africa 14 Australia 0
England 24 Argentina 12
Samoa 33 France 14

Emirates Plate: Final:
New Zealand 19 France 7

Semifinals:
New Zealand 17 Australia 0
Argentina 14 France 24

Emirates Bowl: Final:
Canada 5 Wales 19

Semifinals:
Canada 24 Portugal 19
Scotland 0 Wales 21

Quarterfinals:
Canada 33 Tunisia 5
Portugal 41 Uganda 0
Kenya 0 Scotland 33
Wales 24 Arabian Gulf 7

Emirates Shield: Final:
Tunisia 7 Kenya 10

Semifinals:
Tunisia 24 Uganda 0
Kenya 35 Arabian Gulf 7

International Overseas Trophy : Final:
Royal Navy 26 Pyrenees 17

Semifinals:
Pyrenees 24 PW Coopers 19
Royal Navy 28 CGS Old Boys 7

International Invitation: Final:
NZ Legends 19 Christina Nob 14

Semifinals:
Christina Nob 24 St George 12
NZ Legends 19 Marauders 14

International Vets Trophy: Final:
Marauders 15 Swansea OB 5

Semifinals:
Warblers 5 Marauders 8
Total Lions 0 Swansea OB 5

Gulf Trophy: Final:
Exiles 35 Exiles II 5

Semifinals:
Dragons 7 Exiles II 12
Exiles 19 Hurricanes 5

Quarterfinals:
Dragons 39 Dragons II 5
Exiles II 31 Jordan 5
Exiles 31 Doha 0
Hurricanes 19 French Frogs 0

Gulf Khanjar: Final:
Hurricanes II 19 Bahrain II 7

Semifinals:
Hurricanes II 22 Beirut 0
Abu Dhabi II 7 Bahrain II 31

Quarterfinals:
Hurricanes II 15 Saudi Select 10
Beirut 20 Al Ain 5
Abu Dhabi II 38 Cairo 7
Damascus Zen 0 Bahrain II 17

Gulf Bowl: Final:
Abu Dhabi 29 Lanka Lions 14

Semifinals:
Sharjah 25 Abu Dhabi 0
PDO 17 Lanka Lions 35

Quarterfinals:
Muscat 5 Abu Dhabi 28
Sharjah Wan 39 Kuwait 7
Jeddah II 0 PDO Pirates 24
Lanka Lions 26 Barrelhouse 12

Gulf Shield: Final:
Exiles III 36 Dhofar 0

Semifinals:
Exiles III 45 Muscat II 0
Dhofar 19 Bah Firbolgs 14

Quarterfinals:
Sharjah Wan II 5 Dubai Exil III 45
Dhofar 17 Jeddah 12

Gulf Vets: Final:
Hurricanes 19 Abu Dhabi 0

Semifinals:
Hurricanes 12 Dragons 5
Abu Dhabi 21 Doha Dogs 7

Quarterfinals:
Hurricanes 26 Hurricanes II 0
Dragons 22 Al Ain 5
Abu Dhabi 12 Das Island 5
Doha Dogs 14 Sharjah 7

International Ladies: Final:
Khazakstan 0 Rugby Ecosse 21

International Youth: Final:
Kamatipoort 7 URDD 19

Semifinals:
Komatipoort 26 Wyvern Wan 0
Falcon College 12 URDD 29

Invitation Plate: Final:
Bonesteelers 28 MGUS 25

Semifinals:
St Ives 12 Bonesteelers 26
MGUS 22 N'castle Univ 10

Gulf Vets Plate: Final:
Dubai Exiles 10 Saudi Select 0

Semifinals:
Kuwait 0 Dubai Exiles 33
Saudi Select 19 Amex Bah 14

Gulf Ladies Trophy: Final:
Falcons 7 Dubai Exiles 5

Semifinals:
Falcons 37 Abu Dhabi 0
Hurricanes 7 Dubai Exiles 20

International Overseas Plate: Final:
Devon A.W. 28 Templars 14

Semifinals:
Devon 28 Racing Club 15
Clyde & Co 7 Templars 19

Gulf Youth Trophy: Final:
Abu Dhabi 14 Dubai Exiles 12

Semifinals:
Abu Dhabi 29 Kuwait 0
Dubai Exiles 12 Hornets 0

International Vets Plate: Final:
Racing Club 0 Gac Stockholm 19

Semifinals:
Barrelhouse 0 Racing Club 12
Gac Stockholm 22 Buccaneers 0

Local Social Plate: Final:
Wild Wadi 7 Seafarers 29

Semifinals:
Dubai Celts 5 Wild Wadi 14
Islamabad 12 Seafarers 17

Local Social Trophy: Final:
V Blacks 12 Flying Mup 7

Semifinals:
Nasa Multiplex 0 Flying Mup 15
Falcons 12 V Blacks 17