5th Nov 2018 -

4 Nov, Singapore – The Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby 7s (SCC 7s) ended on a high note this Sunday (4 Nov) as Daveta from Fiji reclaimed the Ablitt Cup in the rain against a Casuarina Cougars side that were in their first final since 1984.

The Cougars had played most of the tournament with only 8 players in their squad but had upset the likes of Hong Kong Dragons and Ponsonby from New Zealand in their run to the finals of the Ablitt Cup.

Daveta on the other hand, had a seemingly easy group round on day 1 of the tournament, and had cruised to what seemed like an easy start with a quarter final against the hosts Singapore Cricket Club. It ended up being a game for the day, with the local club holding the Fijians for most of the first half. It was however a game of inches, and it was the Fijians that came out 12 – 5 over a club side that boasted several Singapore national team players.

It was an afternoon that was perfect for rugby 7s, with overcast clouds cooling the some 3,500 assembled who turned up at the majestic Padang for some great rugby. It was the Schools and Colleges finals up first, with Anglo Chinese School (Independent) coming out 33 – 5 winners over United World College (Dover Campus) to win the Len Foster Trophy for the Under 14 category. The French School Lycée Français de Singapour played some champagne rugby to come up similar 33- 5 winners over the Tanglin Trust School to win the John Clark Shield for the Under 16 age group. In the Under 18 age group, Tanglin Trust School came up winners 15- 7 over United World College (Dover Campus) to win the Sithawalla Cup.


After the Schools and Colleges finals, the crowd was warmed up to the Bowl final, where Kurumi from Japan won the Bowl against the SCC Barbarians. In the Plate final, the Asian Games gold medalists Hong Kong Dragons were up against the side from Perth, Cottesloe, who came up winners over Hong Kong Dragons. The Shield final was a great one where another Japanese club, Tamariva were spirited but lost to long-time visitors Palmyra from Australia.


So it came to the Ablitt Cup final with a heavy downpour not stopping any proceedings. The Casuarina Cougars game up strongly to hold Daveta in the first minutes of the game, but it was the Fijians who drew first blood. A couple of quick tries to end the half seemed to signal the end for the boys from Darwin but they came back strong to score a couple, closing the gap to a try, losing 17-24.

In the end, it was a great way to end a great tournament, with Daveta’s Mesake Varo being named Player of the Final, and Daveta’s Leveni Tani winning the Ashforth Trophy for Player of the Tournament.