Gold Coast heartbreak for resurgent Wales

They scored five tries to see off an up-and-coming Uganda side 31-5 in their first pool match on the Gold Coast, and improved on that with six tries against Sri Lanka (42-12). There could be only one winner progressing from the pool, which meant a mouthwatering contest with Fiji, the in-form team in world sevens.
 
“This tournament can be summed up by the one game we were building towards,” said head coach Gareth Williams of the 21-17 loss to Fiji. “To miss out on a semi-final berth by four points to Fiji was heartbreaking.” 
 
In what turned out to be arguably the best game of the Gold Coast sevens, both sides scored three tries apiece. Fiji had kicked two more conversions than Wales, but Williams’s men were pushing hard for a winning score before their hopes were dashed when Fiji claimed a loose ball inside their 22 with time up on the clock.
 
“It was a fantastic game of sevens which had everything,” Williams said. “I was real proud of how we nearly pulled it off against the favourites to put ourselves into the medal mix. However, it was not to be. 
 
“There were key moments in the game we could have managed more effectively, but this was true for both sides. It was a true contest that involved good execution, errors, and a little bit of luck that you sometimes need to go your way in such matches.”
 
It was a competition that Wales had targeted, but with a format that differs to the World Series (where pool runners-up can qualify for the next stage), it left zero room for error. “In the harsh reality of performance sport, we failed on that front,” said Williams. “I’m proud of the way we represented Team Wales and finished strongly against Kenya to finish seventh. But it was an opportunity missed by four points in that match versus Fiji that ultimately cost us.”
 
The focus now switches to Singapore in two weekends’ time, where Wales will meet the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists New Zealand, plus Australia and Scotland. Wales looked a rejuvenated force on the Gold Coast, and will hope to carry that momentum back into the World Series.
“We need to ensure we bring that intensity and accuracy we showed in Australia on a more consistent basis,” said Williams.
 
Team Wales’ men’s sevens try-scorers:
 
Wales v Uganda (31-5): Morgan Williams, Luke Morgan, Owen Jenkins, Hallam Amos, Luke Treharne
Wales v Sri Lanka (42-12): Ben Roach (x 2), Adam Thomas, Morgan Williams, Owen Jenkins, Ethan Davies
Fiji v Wales (21-17): Owen Jenkins, Luke Morgan, Ben Roach.
Scotland v Wales (19-12): Luke Morgan (x2)
Wales v Kenya (28-24): Luke Morgan, Tom Williams (x2), Luke Treharne.