Creditable US performances in Hong Kong

Matt Hawkins (Dobson Images)

Top seeds New Zealand marched into the Cup quarterfinals at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, rarely troubled on day two in scoring 85 points against Tunisia and the USA and conceding just one try.

The kiwis have now won 39 consecutive matches and will be favorites on day three to land a title which has eluded them since 2001.

They are joined in the last eight by the other pool winners Fiji, England, Australia, Kenya and South Africa plus Wales and Samoa, who qualified as the two best second-placed teams on points difference.

The US got off to a good start on day two by beating Chinese Taipei 38-17, but faced New Zealand next and were no match for the hotshots of world sevens going down 47-7 in the last game of the day.

The USA finished a creditable second in Pool A with a record of 2-1, but their points differential was not strong enough to secure them a prized place in the Cup quarterfinals as one of the two best runners-up. Instead, they will play Canada in the Plate quarterfinals.