Warriors Lead Scotland 7S To Shield Title

Warriors Lead Scotland 7S To Shield Title

Glasgow Warriors utility back, Colin Gregor, captains the Scotland 7s team to the Shield title at the NZI New Zealand Sevens this weekend. Scotland 7s day one resultsSouth Africa 24 – 0 ScotlandKenya 14 – 19 ScotlandScotland 15 – 21 TongaScotland 7s day two resultsBowl _ nal, Australia 22 – 12 ScotlandShield semi-final, Canada 7 – 14 ScotlandShield final, Niue 0 – 26 ScotlandGlasgow Warriors utility back, Colin Gregor, captains the Scotland 7s team to the Shield title at the NZI New Zealand Sevens this weekend.Gregor was joined in Wellington by three other Warriors in the form of Mike Adamson (pictured), Colin Shaw and Richie Vernon.Although Scotland started their second day of competition encouragingly in their Bowl quarter-final meeting with Australia – by scoring through Richie Vernon and Roland Reid, Colin Gregor converting the second – the Aussies fought back with two tries very late on to seal the win._As they moved into the Shield competition, Scotland faced Canada, historically one of their bogey sides, and one which they will meet in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 26 days time._Andrew Turnbull was first to find the score-sheet, Gregor converting, to give the Scots half-time advantage._In the second period, Gregor touched down and converted his own score. A late converted try from the Canadians wasn’t enough to deny the Scots a place in the Shield final._The final of the Shield competition threw up an exciting encounter with Niue who had just beaten Samoa._Despite Niue posing a significant threat to Scotland’s chances, the Scots recorded a clean sheet in defence whilst scoring four tries._Andrew Easson crossed the line twice in the first half, Gregor converting the first, to go in 12-0 up at half-time._Turnbull and Reid were next to touch down, Gregor converting both, to finish the weekend on a high._At the conclusion of the tournament, Scotland 7s coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: We were disappointed not to beat Australia in order to progress in the Bowl competition, but it’s encouraging that were back in contention for games now._We were close in our games yesterday, and we beat Tonga who went onto beat South Africa, so were definitely on the upward slope._On today’s performances, Gemmell saw further improvement in his side’s execution and looks forward to carrying that into the final IRB Sevens World Series event (USA) before the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March._’these results give us something to take on into San Diego. No-ones getting carried away with things but it does provide us with some momentum._Niue beat Samoa to get to the Shield semi-final and that shows the level of their ability. I feel we played some of our best rugby in the final._Next week won’t get any easier though as this weekend we played the winner of the last two tournaments, South Africa, and next weekend, we will be playing the winner of this tournament, England._All-in-all, it’s another six games under our belt in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup Sevens._The weekend’s action saw a high volume of shock results, with Samoa, historically one of the world’s best sevens sides, failing to win a single game over the two days. Wales also beat World champions New Zealand, the USA beat Fiji and Kenya beat South Africa._However, to Gemmell, these kind of results so close to a World Cup are not surprising._Youve got to expect that in a World Cup year. It’s probably been the most exciting weekend in the 10 years of the IRB Sevens World Series._’there are no mismatches anymore with the bigger nations taking on the smaller nations. Everyone has stepped up their game ahead of the World Cup._From his own point of view, Gemmell is focussed on Scotland’s task and that is to keep the intensity up going into the half-way point of the eight-leg Series._It was good to get some of the professional players coming back in and getting some sevens game-time. Some of them haven’t played sevens for a long time._Weve now generated some momentum and we need to keep it going. Now weve really got something to build on._Scotland 7s team v Australia: Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutton (Hawick)*, Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)+Substitutes: Graham Hogg (Hawick)* for Grant, Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors) for Reid, Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)* for Hutton_Scotland 7s team v Canada: Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)+Substitutes: Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors) for Reid, Graham Hogg (Hawick)* for Vernon, Marc Teague (Edinburgh) for Turnbull_Scotland 7s team v Niue: Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)+Substitutes: Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)* for Easson, Rory Hutton (Hawick)* for Adamson, Marc Teague (Edinburgh) for Turnbull_Scotland 7s squad (sponsor Murray) for the next two tournaments on the IRB Sevens World Series in New Zealand and USA: Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Graham Hogg (Hawick)*, Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)*, Rory Hutton (Hawick)*, Roland Reid (Edinburgh), Scott Riddell (Blaydon)++, Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Marc Teague (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)+, Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)_* = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy+ = Available for Wellington tournament only++ = Available for San Diego tournament onlyNotes_’the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s is the eighth and final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. It will be held at Murrayfield on 30 and 31 May 2009.Tickets sales information will be announced shortly – log on to www.edinburgh7s.com for more information. _Rugby Sevens will be one of the showpiece events of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. _’the Rugby World Cup Sevens originated with a proposal by Scottish Rugby to the International Rugby Board (IRB). The inaugural tournament was held at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in April 1993. _’the fifth Rugby World Cup Sevens will be held in Dubai from 5-7 March this year at a new purpose-build venue – ‘the Sevens.

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