Springboks win in Dubai

The Springbok team of Chester Williams won the annual Dubai Sevens, the first stop on the International Rugby Board Sevens circuit, when they beat New Zealand 33-26 in the Final on Friday.

Player of the Tournament: Fabian Juries

Having taken the opening leg, the South Africans now head into the second leg - on home soil in George next week - with a handy lead, while the victory also ensured that the South Africans ended New Zealand's unbeaten run in Dubai, where they were going for their fifth consecutive triumph.

The fourth-seeded Springboks deserved their win in what turned out to be a classic Final.

They defeated all three the teams ranked ahead of them in Dubai - beating Fiji (ranked third) 19-17 in the quarter-finals, top-ranked England 13-12 in the semi-finals and the No.2 team, New Zealand, in the Final.

And to add to their many reasons for celebrating Fabian Juries was named Player of the Tournament.

It was just reward for Juries, who scored the winning try in the Final and also displayed outstanding form throughout the two-day event.

Apart from Juries' outstanding form, SA captain Marc de Marigny was as solid as a rock, while youngsters like Tonderai Chavhanga and Paul Delport were a revelation.

Earlier, a late drop-goal by young Earl Rose secured South Africa a place in the Final. The successful kick ended England's hopes, as South Africa scored a 13-12 victory to set up a clash with defending champions of the Emirates Trophy, New Zealand.

The Kiwis killed off Samoan hopes, defeating the Pacific Island nation 33-0.

The South Africans scored early against England when Rose finished off a sniping break by Juries, but failed with his conversion attempt. Rob Thirlby replied for England seconds before the break. A successful kick by Ben Gollings saw England leading the Boks by 7-5 at the break.

Juries put the South Africans ahead again after a brilliant run (10-7) only for Richard Haughton to score with a minute to go.

The fourth seeds attacked with purpose and when England killed the ball on the ground, Rose stepped up with the match-winning drop-goal.

In other results Zambia beat the Arabian Gulf 59-26 to win the Shield. Canada won the Bowl by defeating Kenya. Argentina won the Plate competition against Australia.

Day Two results:

Bowl quarter-finals:
Morocco 43-12 Arabian Gulf
Kenya 36-14 Zimbabwe
Canada 27-12 Zambia
Uganda 43-14 Sri Lanka

Trophy quarter-finals:
England 14-5 Argentina
South Africa 19-17 Fiji
Samoa 14-10 Australia
New Zealand 15-10 France (extra-time)

Shield semi-finals:
Arabian Gulf 17-12 Zimbabwe (extra-time)
Zambia 17-12 Sri Lanka

Bowl semi-finals:
Morocco 17-19 Kenya
Canada 36-5 Uganda

Plate semi-finals:
Plate Argentina 21-10 Fiji
Plate Australia 19-7 France

Trophy semi-finals:
England 12-13 South Africa
Samoa 0-33 New Zealand

Shield Final:
Arabian Gulf 26-59 Zambia

Bowl Final:
Kenya 10-21 Canada

Plate Final:
Argentina 40-10 Australia

Trophy Final:
South Africa 33-26 New Zealand