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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.

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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.

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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.

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