Samoa came from behind to beat New Zealand 24-21 and win the Hong Kong Sevens yesterday.
The victory gave Samoa the lead in the IRB Sevens World Series with two tournaments left.
Samoa's third successive title gave them 30 points to increase their season total to 124 - three ahead of New Zealand.
Kurt Baker, who scored four tries in New Zealand's semi- final win over Fiji, crossed twice in the first four minutes to help the Kiwis race to a 14-0 lead.
Samoa got two tries, but missed a conversion, meaning they trailed 14-12 at the break. Then Mikaele Pesamino scored two tries, one converted by Lolo Lui, to put Samoa ahead 24-14 with a lead they would not lose.
Stephen Betham, the Samoa coach, said composure was key to his team's victory and credited the win to "just keeping ourselves in the game and knowing that the game isn't over until the final whistle".
He added: "When we got those two tries [in the first half], we knew we had a chance."
Gordon Tietjens, the New Zealand coach, said: "We just made too many mistakes in the end. We started particularly well, then made too many mistakes, had some real opportunities. It wasn't to be, really."
Meeanwhile, Gareth Delve, the Welsh international forward, will join the Melbourne Rebels, the new Super team, from the English side Gloucester in September. "The opportunity to test myself alongside the best players in world rugby in a competition I have grown up admiring, was one I couldn't refuse," said Delve, whose new team will play in the Super tournament from February 2011.
Nick Cummins, the Western Force winger, has been banned for two weeks for a dangerous tackle in Saturday's loss to the Super 14-leading Pretoria Bulls. A disciplinary panel said of his challenge on Jacques-Louis Potgieter he had "lifted and dropped the Bulls player to the ground with no regard for his safety".
Mitch Hardy, the Force general manager, said the club would appeal the ban.
@Email:akunawicz@thenational.ae
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
