Sports Reporter
South Africa’s Blitzboks claimed their first Hong Kong Sevens title on Sunday, overpowering defending champions Argentina 35-7 in the final at a full Kai Tak Sports Park.
The victory came after the Blitzboks took a 14-7 lead into the break and then pulled away with a dominant second-half display.
The Hong Kong tournament is the opening stop of the SVNS World Championship series, ahead of events in Valladolid and Bordeaux.
South Africa struck first when Tristan Leyds followed up his own kick from deep and grounded under the posts. Argentina responded through Santino Zangara, with Santiago Vera Feld adding the conversion to level matters.
The Blitzboks regained control when Leyds sliced through midfield and set up Selvyn Davids for a well-worked try, before converting to make it 14-7.
South Africa then produced a strong defensive stand late in the first half to prevent Argentina from finding a way back.
That resistance continued after the restart.
Argentina again threatened, but South Africa held out before Sebastiaan Jobb broke from a turnover. Although he was stopped short, Ryan Oosthuizen was in support to finish, with Ronald Brown converting for a 21-7 advantage.
South Africa tightened their grip from there.
Shilton van Wyk collected another kick from Leyds to score beneath the posts, and Davids later added the final try to seal an emphatic win.
Earlier on Sunday, South Africa booked their place in the final with a 26-14 victory over New Zealand in the semi-finals after leading 14-0 at half-time.
The scoreline did not fully reflect South Africa’s control. The Blitzboks raced into a 26-0 lead before New Zealand crossed twice late on through Akuila Rokolisoa and Michael Manson.
In a bruising opening spell, South Africa absorbed heavy pressure before breaking from deep for Leyds to score from halfway, with the conversion added.
New Zealand were then reduced to six men when Roderick Solo was yellow-carded for a late challenge on Davids. South Africa made the numerical advantage count, moving the ball sharply before Jobb crossed after the hooter for another converted try.
After the interval, Van Wyk and Oosthuizen added further tries as South Africa kept up the pressure.
Argentina, meanwhile, had reached the final by edging Spain in the other semi-final. South Africa had already underlined their dominance over the Argentines a day earlier with a 38-0 Pool A win, and carried that form into the title decider.
INSIDE POLITICS
