Dubai: KooGa Wailers and Marauders showed that favourites South Sea Drifters won't have things their own way with impressive quarterfinal performances in the International Invitation competition.
Waisale Serevi's Drifters booked their place in the last four of a high-quality tournament with a comfortable but low-key 33pts-15 defeat of Stefans adidas BHF and will now meet Marauders who appeared extremely sharp in their 29-12 victory over Christina Noble.
Eleven South Africans, including former national sevens skipper Kevin Foote and youngsters Therlow Pietersen and Alshaun Bock, along with one English player have quickly combined to become a real force for the guest side who are sponsored by Gap Corp and Fairfax.
High standard
Manager Hugh Griffiths said: "They're very dedicated and focused, and we're in with a real chance."
KooGa Wailers, meanwhile, also underlined their trophy credentials with a 29-7 win over Moscow Region and now take on Phil Greening's Sporting Chance who overcame Steelers 22-7.
Wailers Director of Rugby Andy Howells said: "We've never been beyond the quarterfinals here so we've now broken that duck.
"It's a tournament we've always wanted to win but one slip at this level and you're gone because the standard is so high." The Wailers are a Newcastle Falcons club side in everything but name, and have managed to bring to Dubai eight members of the squad that won the Middlesex Sevens at the start of the season.
Howells added: "We entered nine competitions last year and won six, reaching the final in the other three. "John Fletcher (Newcastle's director of rugby) wants to use sevens as a development tool for our young players and tournaments like this are a great experience."
Meanwhile, the Dubai Exiles are aiming to celebrate the 38th and final Dubai Sevens on their home turf with a third successive victory in the Gulf Cup.
Marcus Smith's squad qualified for today's quarterfinals in style, rattling up 122 points and conceding only one try on their way to comfortable wins over Muscat, Cairo and Doha.
Exiles will take on Phoenicians who they defeated in last season's final. Dubai Hurricanes racked up solid wins over Dubai Exiles II, Jordan and then Bahrain and will now take on Dubai Dragons while Kuwait Nomads also qualified with three from three for a quarterfinal clash with Doha.
Fixtures
Today's semis: KooGa Wailers v Sporting Chance (12.40pm, pitch 2), South Seas Drifters v Marauders (1pm, pitch 2)
Quarterfinals : Dubai Exiles v Phoenicians, Abu Dhabi v Dubai Exiles II, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Dragons, Kuwait Nomads v Doha.
