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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:01:20:11:28:09 by Kath..

ENGLAND were edged out 22-19 by Samoa before overwhelming Portugal 54-0 on the opening day of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.

A last-play score from Tom Iosefo settled the opening game but they cut loose against Portugal to run up the biggest score on the opening day of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

England face Uruguay in their final Pool C game on Saturday (20:44 GMT) and a win should see them into the quarter finals by virtue of superior points difference.

Tom Mitchell led the side for the first time at the Sam Boyd Stadium but saw his team overtaken in the closing moments against Samoa.

Dan Bibby scored two first half tries but England trailed 17-15 at the break after Sani Niue, Tulolo Tulolo and Fale So’oialo touched down.

James Rodwell grabbed the lead late in the game only for Iosefo to strike for the Samoan side that has won this tournament twice in the last four years.

England were quickly into their stride against Portugal with Mitchell, Christian Lewis-Pratt, Tom Burgess and Tom Powell all scoring first half tries before Marcus Watson, Mitchell, Dan Norton and Jeff Williams touched down in the second.

Mitchell currently tops the World Series points table on 132, 16 ahead of Tomasi Cama of New Zealand – who are England’s likeliest opponents if they reach the last eight.

Other results in Las Vegas saw New Zealand, South Africa and France all win their opening two pool matches.

New Zealand conceded just two tries in beating Scotland 26-5 and Australia 31-7 while South Africa didn’t give away a single point, hammering Wales 43-0 and Canada 29-0.

Hat-trick: Dan Norton

ENGLAND will face France on day 3 of the USA Sevens in Las Vegas after being beaten 24-7 by New Zealand in the cup quarter finals.

Dan Norton scored a hat-trick of tries as they cruised to a 43-5 win over Uruguay in their final pool match on day two at the fourth round of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

But series champions New Zealand scored four tries before they finally got on the board through substitute Tom Powell and England now play for ranking points in the second tier Plate competition.

Former Gloucester and Bristol wing Norton took his career try tally to 146 with his treble against Uruguay and there were four more touchdowns from Jeff Williams (2), James Rodwell and ex-London Irish No.8 Alex Gray with Dan Bibby (2) and Tom Mitchell kicking conversions.

On the opening day England had been beaten 22-19 by Samoa on the opening day before cutting loose to score eight tries in a 54-0 victory over the Portugese and finished second overall in the group.

Waisake Naholo then scored three tries and Tim Mikkelson one as New Zealand went 24-0 up early in the second half. Bibby, Powell and Norton all came off the bench but Powell’s strike 30 seconds from time was their only response.

New Zealand now play Canada and Samoa take on South Africa in the Cup semi finals while the winners of the England vs France Plate semi (19:10 GMT) will tackle Argentina or Australia in tonight’s Plate final.

England beat France and Australia on day three of USA Sevens


Tom Mitchell lifts the Plate title in Las Vegas

ENGLAND finished fifth at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas after beating France 21-12 and Australia 26-24 to win the Plate title.

The result earned Simon Amor’s side 13 series points and leaves them fourth in the overall standings behind South Africa, New Zealand and Fiji.

Captain Tom Mitchell finished the three day tournament with 44 points and leads the series rankings with 156 from four events of the HSBC Sevens World Series as the teams prepare for the next leg in Wellington (February 7-8).

England, who were knocked out of the quarter finals 24-7 by New Zealand, dominated both day three matches at the Sam Boyd Stadium.

Mitchell, Dan Bibby and Marcus Watson scored tries against France with Mitchell converting all three. Stephen Parez and Julian Candelon replied in the second half.

They were held level at 12-12 by Australia in the Plate final – Mitchell and Jeff Williams touching down - and Mike Ellery and Marcus Watson struck early in the second half to make sure despite a late reply from Shannon Walker.

South Africa went on to lift a third USA Sevens title in five years, beating New Zealand 14-7 in a physical final with tries from Branco du Preez and Werner Kok.

On the opening two days England had been beaten 22-19 by Samoa before Pool C victories over Portugal (54-0) and Uruguay (43-5).