EDITOR'S CHOICE NEWPORT COUNTY O'Sullivan decides on Merthyr move New manager by May 16 – County chairman NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS Happy Dragons after great win Dragons 31 Leinster 26 WHEELS NEWS Open season Small outlay big profit LATEST NEWS Horses sent out to pasture Prize snappers enjoy stadium tour VOTE Will you ever take part in an ITV phone-in competition? Yes No GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Kittens dumped in dustbin 2 Estate agent's musical role 3 Residents shocked at travellers' arrival 4 Repossessions rise in Newport 5 Flash floods in Chepstow after heavy storms 6 Horses sent out to pasture 7 Happy Dragons after great win 8 Historic church set for major refurbishment 9 Artist celebrates first solo exhibition 10 Charvis honoured with anti-racism award Today | 7 Days 1 Alsatian stolen from garden 2 Police op exposes Newport's booze kids 3 500 homes planned for Monkey Island 4 Woman's horror at needle blunder 5 City Labour leader's anxious wait 6 New manager by May 16 – County chairman 7 Charvis honoured with anti-racism award 8 Special needs girl has bike stolen 9 Happy Dragons after great win 10 Dragons win and make Heineken Cup

Comment

THE Dragons' James Lewis is the only fitness worry for the second session of the three-day Hong Kong Sevens tournament after the promising player picked up a shoulder injury in Wales' 34-0 victory over Zimbabwe.

"James got a stinger but we think he should be OK for one of the games today," said Wales sevens coach Gareth Baber, after watching his side post an impressive display against the east Africans.

Wales, playing clever sevens rugby yesterday on the opening day of the Hong Kong Sevens, completely snuffed out the Zimbabwe threat with aggressive defence and intelligent use of the inside channels when they were in possession.

"We played some great sevens against Zimbabwe. They had a lot of quality in their side and we knew that they were gunning for us" said Wales sevens coach, Gareth Baber. He added: "We played our own game and I think it was our intensity that gave us such a big win".

Wales were quickly into their stride opening the scoring with a try and conversion by their young outside half Gareth Owen before Aled Brew raced in at the corner for an unconverted score.

Then when Lee Williams dodged through a bemused Zimbabwe defence and Owen converted, Wales had established a 19-0 lead.

Two tries on either side of the interval by Edwards were further crushing blows but there was still time for a final effort, this time replacement Alec Jenkins touching down in the corner to complete a satisfactory performance by Wales.

The 34-0 scoreline is likely to be crucial for Wales in their quest to reach the quarter finals of the Cup.

Each of the pool winners go through automatically the other two quarter final places being filled by the best placed second pool sides. 'Best' is determined first by championship points and then by points difference.

Wales open against Korea today in a game that will be a different test. The Koreans, lacking the experience of Wales at world level, are nevertheless tough competitors as they showed by scoring the first try of their tie against the mighty Fijians.

But it is Fiji that Wales must contain. The Fijians, as usual, looked menacing on the ball and in William Ryder, they have a player who is lethal unless cut down early.

Wales Sevens squad : Johnathan Edwards (capt, Scarlets), Richie Pugh (Cardiff), James Merriman (Neath), James Harris (Dragons), Lee Beech (Neath), Tom Riley (Blues), Lee Williams (Llanelli), Robert Lewis (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Aled Brew (Scarlets), Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Owen (Ospreys)

5:59pm Friday 28th March 2008

Print

Email this

Comment