UBB Gavekal retained the Bill Burgess Cup after Fijian Sevens star Leveni Kurimalawai secured the title in the hotly contested final against Tradition YCAC.
Finishing 24-17 the Fijians were a feature of the game, with UBB’s Samu Bale scoring early, Sakeo Raloa scoring twice and then Kurimalawai scoring the winner.
Surprise winners last year, the representatives of the Top 14 side Union Bordeaux Begles, lived up to their status as top seeds of the competition.
Lead by former UBB captain, Matt Clarkin, knew that a second consecutive title was going to
?? Day 2 RECAP!
— GFI HKFC 10s (@GFIHKFC10s) April 5, 2018
UBB Gavekal defeat Tradition YCAC 24-17 in a dramatic #HK10s final!
Read more ?? https://t.co/KgMdy0TWja pic.twitter.com/ujElpWVvKN
"We’re ecstatic! We knew going back-to-back was going to be an even bigger challenge than coming last year as underdogs, but we thrived on that challenge and the boys showed up hungry and they got the job done.
He added:“The Fiji guys did for us what they did for us last year, but our trademark is working hard for each other. I think that’s still our strength and I think you saw that in the final.”
“It was the same thing as last year: we just came together as a tight unit,” said captain Nick Smith, who scored four tries from flyhalf, while compatriot Renata Tenana also scored four tries over the two days.
“We’re all from different parts of the world, from Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and Hong Kong, but at the end of the day, it’s how you gel together.”
Former Scotland and Lions lock, Doddie Weir, who is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, walked out with the match ball for the final and was presented with a HK$100,000 cheque for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the tournament’s official charity.
Samurai International’s dreams of winning the senior Cup for the first time were shattered when King’s College scored a try in the last play of the match to win their quarter-final. Samurai won the second-tier Plate as the all-Fijian side beat A-Trade Overseas Old Boys 28-7.
?? Samurai wins the Plate at the #HK10s!
— GFI HKFC 10s (@GFIHKFC10s) April 5, 2018
Great sportsmanship at end of Plate Final as @Samurai7s invite A-Trade Overseas Old Boys to take part in post match ceremonies ?????? pic.twitter.com/LEMjvXVWVi
Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles won a trophy for the first time at the Hong Kong 10s. This came after they beat Hunter + Boo East Africans 38-7 in the third-tier Bowl final.
Exiles captain Jamie Pincott reflected on his team’s seven year wait for a trophy: “It’s been a long few years, especially hitting the finals a lot of the time and coming away empty handed so it’s nice to have this win and to take the trophy home.”
Hosts Natixis HKFC lifted the Shield after beating Irish Vikings 17-0. In what was naturally a popular victory by the home side, it was a triumph for Natixis HKFC co-captain Tom Isaacs who lost in the plate final twice as a student for Cardiff University: "We’re very happy. It was a tough two days, but we’re really proud of the way the boys performed in the last two games. I got to the Plate final twice before and actually lost against the Irish Vikings one time, so personally it was nice for me to get that win.”
Cup Final: UBB Gavekal 24-17 Tradition YCAC
Plate Final: Samurai International 28-7 A-Trade Overseas Old Boys
Bowl Final: Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles 38-7 Hunter + Boo East Africans
Plate Final: Natixis HKFC 17-0 Irish Vikings
All results: www.hongkongtens.com/match.php
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