Normal Service Will Resume Shortly

The In at the Corner team have taken an extended break throughout June and July. Tom McArthur is desperately trying to finish his NCTJ Preliminary Certificate and has cracked the sub-12 minute 3000m time, whilst the dynamic Huddersfield flyer Daniel “Top Gas” Chirwa has been in an intensive pre-season conditioning phase in preparation for the inevitable Chirwa Vs Robinson showdown in the Fylde/Huddersfield match.

The boys will be back from next week, with an Aviva Premiership preview and some exclusive content from the Middlesex Sevens on the 14^th August.

Australia Win first 7s title in Eight Years. Plate and Cup Final Reports

PLATE FINAL

Fiji held New Zealand close, and were winning with ten seconds to go, but DJ Forbes and his men managed to save some face from this tournament by snatching victory from the grasp of Fiji in the dying seconds of the match with an outstanding long range try from Sherwin Stowers. New Zealand rise to third in the IRB table with this 26-24 win.

CUP FINAL

Australia battle out an exciting final to clinch their first major title in eight years and are deserved Emirates London 7s Champions.  Nerves from both side were apparent, but Australia’s first try from paceman Bracklin Karauria-Henry from his own 22 seemed to go some way to calm the Aussies down. Electric Fabian Juries scored a blistering try on the stroke of half-time to level the scores. A heroic cover tackle from James Stannard denied Cecil Afrika the chance to steal the game, with only thirty seconds to go. Australia ran the clock down and celebrated their win with earnest.

Emirates London Sevens 2010: Cup Semi Finals

Australia Vs Argentina

Australia never looked like losing this rather pedestrian semi-final, although a determined Argentina made the Aussies work hard for the victory. Frederick Amelong and Nicolas Bruzzone crossed for the South Americans in the second half. Australia progress to the final with a 26-14 victory.

South Africa Vs Samoa

Cecil Afrika opened the scoring but Samoa replied straight away with the first of two tries from Alafoti Fa’osiliva. With desire of both teams to progress to the final was demonstrated in the physicality of the breakdown, and the lack of errors from both sides. South Africa’s discipline and pace eventually becomes too much for a visibly tired Samoa. Tries from Ryno  Benjamin, Chris Dry and Fabian Juries put the Springboks through to the final, 24-12.

For updates on the rest of today’s action, click http://ur7s.com/live_text

Check out the live text updates from UR7s.com herehttp://ur7s.com/live_text for your fix of first day sevens action!

The atmosphere here today is awesome; if only more England games could be like this. Could it be that the 15s game has sold it’s atmosphere to the coporate crowd?

Mickey Young Talks to In at the Corner.

Young: England will take each game as it comes.

Mickey Young, the Newcastle Falcon’s dynamic scrum half told In at the Corner today that England will be treating each game as a final and Ben Ryan’s men are keen to please the Twickenham crowd, and retain the London 7s crown.

Speaking to Tom McArthur after England’s first game against Russia, Young described how he felt running out in front of the roaring Twickenham masses and how England hope to build on each game:

“The first game was a good chance for us to blow away any cobwebs and try some things early on in the day. Russia played well in the first half, but I think if ball and gone to hand for Ben Gollings in the first minute, then things would have been different. The first game gave us chance to settle, but we are going to treat each match like a cup final and aim to improve each time.”

When asked how it feels to run out in front of such a raucous home crowd, the Northumbria University student replied: “Awesome. It must be unreal for the boys when the place is packed out for a full international.”

To conclude the interview, we asked Mickey if Ben Gollings is planning any special celebrations for his imminent 200^th International Sevens Try; “Ben plays his cards pretty close to his chest, but I am sure that he will have something to smash out-the crowds should keep an eye on him!”

England overcame a dogged Russian side to emerge victorious in their first game, 29-5.