Luke Treharne’s side lost a highly competitive opening pool game against Argentina, 19-12, at the Westpac Stadium and then conceded four second half tries to the flying Fijians in their second outing to go down 33-7 having changed ends all square.
A 33-28 win over Japan set up a Bowl quarter-final against Samoa, which was lost in the final play of the game, before a 17-0 Shield semi-final defeat to Russia ended their two days in the New Zealand capital. They now move on to Sydney, where they will face England, USA and Japan in Pool D.
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Having been 12-0 down at the break against the Pumas, tries from Kirstian Phillips and Treharne brought Wales back into the contest, but they couldn’t bridge the gap in the end. Against the Fijians a Sam Cross try converted by Treharne made it 7-7 at the break before the south seas’ sevens specialists cut loose in the second half.
In the final pool game Japan led 14-12 at half-time then went 19-12 ahead with the first try of the second half.
Owen Jenkins and Luke Morgan ran in first half tries and then the second half recovery saw Treharne and Roach got over before Jordan Williams won the game in the final minute with a try which he also converted.
The Bowl quarter-final clash on Day 2 with Samoa started badly for the Welsh side, who found themselves trailing 24-0 at half-time. But a brilliant second half revival in which Cross and Morgan crossed for two tries apiece levelled the scores before the Samoans stole the game with a last minute score.
The Shield semi-final against Russia was lost 17-0, with Wales conceding three tries. The Russians went on to lose 14-7 to France in the final.
Wales Sevens Squad: Luke Treharne (captain, Wales 7s), Sam Cross (Wales 7s), Ben Roach (Wales 7s), Luke Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Lloyd Lewis (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jordan Williams (Scarlets), Adam Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Owen Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tom Isaacs (Cardiff Blues), Kristian Phillips (Ospreys), Ethan Davies (Cross Keys), Luke Crocker (Ebbw Vale)
