Written by Alex Goff    Sunday, 10 February 2013 15:34    PDF Print Write e-mail
Overtime Insanity!
Tournaments - USA Sevens Tournament


It's not just the USA v Canada Plate Semifinal that went to Overtime. 

New Zealand celebrates the game-winner. Ian Muir photo.
South Africa and Samoa were in a tight battle. Ian Muir photo.
Fiji had their chances. Ian Muir photo.

Of the top four semifinal matches, three went into extras. Only Scotland v. Wales, won by an ever-improving Scotland 35-14 behind Struan Dewar's two tries, was not close.

That was the other Plate Semi. Canada beat the USA 24-19 in sudden death in the first Plate Semi.

Then the Cup Semis came. New Zealand and Fiji battled to a tie at full time. New Zealand looked in control, was Tim Mikkelson capped off a nifty team movement for one, and then Tomasi Cama sliced through for another.

But Fiji is nothing if not calm about how a game goes. They scored twice to tie it up 14-14.

In OT, Fiji had a penalty attempt, which they missed (more on that later) and then David Raikuna stumbled, bumbled, spun and ran to the corner, where he just stretched over. Ballgame.

And the next game was OT also. In this one, with no time left and the game deadlocked at 7-7, Samoa's Lolo Lui attempted a long-range penalty goal that missed. South Africa's defense was desperate, and they just held on to keep the tie alive, and then in OT Anthony Tailua was put through for the dramatic try.

So the remaining games are as follows. More overtime anyone?

Shield Final: Uruguay v Australia
Bowl Final: Argentina v France
Plate Final: Canada v Scotland
Cup Final: New Zealand v South Africa