Gulf lack knockout blow in Lankan Sevens

Dubai: Despite winning two matches and losing narrowly to two of Asia's top seven's teams the Gulf men's team returned disappointed with their efforts last weekend in Kandy after they failed to capitalise on game winning opportunities.

The squad had high hopes of a finals berth and to improve massively on the two Bowl titles that they won in previous years.

Things started well in their first match with an eight try rout of India to post the highest score of the tournament with a one-sided 50-0 victory. A casualty of the opening game was a tournament ending injury for Arron Brown who damaged ankle ligaments after looking to be in good form playing at prop.

A Fiji dominated Malaysia were next up and in a bruising encounter the Gulf fought hard before being beaten 19-12 by the eventual tournament winners.

In their final pool match of the day the Gulf took on one of Asia's rugby superpowers Korea and on a wet, heavy pitch went down battling 21-12. Korea later lost to surprise winners Malaysia in an exciting finale to the three day competition.

With twelve tries scored for the day and an early morning match up scheduled against Thailand, confidence was up for an unbeaten Day Two.

Although reduced to nine players and with both Stuart Gibb and debutant Jonny MacDonald battling injuries it was non the less an upbeat team that run out against Thailand, a confidence that took a jolt with the Thais taking a swift early lead.

Fighting back the Gulf boys retook the lead in the dying moments only to turn over a late possession and allow Thailand to score and snatch a 28-24 victory.

Double agony was to follow in their next match when leading Chinese Taipei. With time up on the clock a kick off infringement allowed Taipei a free kick which they promptly scored off to force sudden death overtime.

Working hard to gain and retain possession in the extra stanza the Gulf lead by dynamo Chris Gregory could not break the Chinese Taipei defense and eventually turned over possession for an easy breakout try for the Gulf's jubilant opponents.

The last match was a bitter-sweet affair against Thailand who had upset the Gulf at the start of the day. With a packed house of 8000 fans helping the popular Gulf team along, Steve Cooper's men ground out a 17-7 revenge to finish 7th in this the tenth year of the competition.

International debutants; Jonny Macdonald from Abu Dhabi and Hurricanes wing Josh Sherrin had excellent starts to their Gulf careers with top try scorer Sherrin being a real handful for the opposition with his strong running and powerful fend.

Macdonald battling a foot injury would have learnt a great deal and will be a better sevens exponent because of this Sri Lanka experience.

Skipper Stephen Cooper was his usual committed self and Cory Oliver at scrumhalf while not possessing his usual boot camp fitness was clever in his play and displayed his trademark passing game and calmness.

Team: AGRFU Men's Sevens Team in Sri Lanka: