Jump to main content
Dream start for GB in Rio

Dream start for GB in Rio

Welsh duo James Davies and Sam Cross played their parts superbly to ensure Team GB remained undefeated to end day one of pool play on top of Pool C in the men’s Olympic sevens competition.

Share this page:

Davies was superb in both victories against Kenya and Japan, proving a major menace at the breakdown to provide opposition with quick ball while Cross slotted in when coming on as a replacement on both games.

Simon Amor’s side started the day with a 31-7 victory over Kenya before following it up with a narrow 21-19 win against Japan.

Japan had earlier stunned New Zealand with a victory over one of the pre-tournament favourites but it is GB who are in control of the pool.

GB began brilliantly against the dangerous Kenya side, wing Dan Norton easing nerves with a surge down the touchline to score the first try.

Phil Burgess then steamed through Kenya’s midfield for Team GB’s second with Mitchell’s conversion making it 12-0. Dan Bibby and Mark Bennett then raced over to give GB a handy 24-0 lead at the break.

Kenya came firing back with a converted try just after the restart but Bibby’s show and go allowed him to slip through the opposition defence and dot down for the final try of the match.

Having already stunned New Zealand with a huge upset, Japan were hoping to make it two wins from two games. GB controlled the early stages but Japan bounced back and only a missed conversion after the full time hooter denied them securing a draw.

When James Rodwell raced over for two early tries it appeared GB would coast to victory but Lomano Lemeki  went over to halve the deficit.

Katsuyuki Sakai scored under the posts to level the score but replacement Marcus Watson looked to have won the game though with a moment of magic, wriggling through a tackle with pace and power to score under the posts for GB’s third converted try.

Lemeki scored in added time to pull Japan to within two points but crucially the conversion was missed.

New Zealand recovered from their defeat to Japan with victory over Kenya and now face Team GB this afternoon (KO 4.30pm) needing a victory to advance in the competition.

Partners and Suppliers

Principal Partners
Principality
Admiral
Dream start for GB in Rio
Vodafone
Go.Compare
Official Broadcast Partners
S4C
BBC Cymru/Wales
Official Partners
Guinness
Dream start for GB in Rio
Dream start for GB in Rio
Heineken
Dream start for GB in Rio
Dream start for GB in Rio
Official Suppliers
Gilbert
Dream start for GB in Rio
Rhino Rugby
Sportseen
Dream start for GB in Rio
Dream start for GB in Rio
Princes Gate
Dream start for GB in Rio
Amber
Opro
Total Energies
Seat Unique
Dream start for GB in Rio
Castell Howell
Glamorgan Brewing
Ted Hopkins
Hawes & Curtis
Dream start for GB in Rio