Four Fijian players assisted the UBB Gavekal 7s rugby side to win the GFI HKFC 10s final after edging out Penguins 10-7 on Thursday night.

Vodafone Fijian 7s winger Josua Vici scored the opening try in the second half to lift the intensity of the game. First Light Taveuni playmaker Lemeki Tulele, Samu Bale and Glen Cakautini were instrumental in dictating play for the side.

UBB captain Aorangi Stokes was named Player of the Tournament, while Australia 7s teenager Josh Coward who represented debutants Classic Wallabies scored six tries and was the tournament’s top try scorer.

UBB were seeded a lowly 11th after finishing in the bottom eight of the 16-team tournament in their first two appearances.  Stokes who came from New Zealand commended his team’s efforts.

“I’m stoked! It’s unreal. The boys showed they had a massive ticker. They just put everything out there as you saw. We’re all spent,” he said.

Team mate Nick Smith converted a last-gasp drop for Gavekal to secure victory.

Smith says, “I actually got the call to kick from the sideline from the coaches, so you have to listen to the big dogs! I looked at the time and saw about 30 seconds left so I thought I’d drop it into the pocket. I just hit it and hoped.”

Both Kiwis smiled broadly when asked about the contribution of the Fiji Sevens quartet.

“They were our superstars,” Smith said.

“We knew we had to feed them the ball and give them the space, and let them do what they do best. We saw some great examples down the sideline of their speed. You just have to give it to them and let them run, and that’s how the Fijians do it,” Smith added.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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