IRB Sevens - Day Two, Los Angeles

England ended Fiji's run of victories in the IRB Sevens series by recording a convincing 38-5 victory over the Fijians in the Final of the USA leg of the series at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles on Sunday.

This allowed England to close the gap on the table-topping Fijians - who now have 72 points on the IRB Sevens standings, followed by England's 60. The English are now the only serious threat to Fiji's chances of replacing New Zealand as IRB Sevens champions.

It was Fiji's fourth consecutive appearance in the Final. England beat Fiji in the Final in Dubai, but the Fijians won the next two tournaments (in George and Wellington), before the English came back for victory in LA.

South Africa, who reached the semi-final four times and lost to Fiji in the Wellington Final, are on 52 points and the only other team with a remote chance of catching the Fijians.

New Zealand, defending IRB Sevens champions, moved into fourth place on 38 points, followed by Argentina in fifth on 34.

LOS ANGELES - RESULTS/REPORTS, DAY TWO:

CUP COMPETITION:

England, much in the same way as in they did in the semi-final against South Africa, were quickest out of the blocks and David Strettle and Andrew Vilk powered them to an early 14-0 lead before Timoci Volavola's try cut the half-time deficit to 14-5.

But England again sprinted out of the blocks after the break and, with an attacking defence neutralising much of Fiji's enterprise, Mathew Tait, Vilk again and Nils Mordt stetched out the lead to an unassailable 33-5, before Gollings capped off another personal points-fest with a try of his own with moments to spare.

England had earlier produced such a superb display to reach the last match of the piece, Andy Vilk scoring a hat trick as Mike Friday's men blitzed South Africa 40-0, Tait, Strettle and Gollings also touching down. Stefan Basson looked to be carrying an injury from earlier in the day and, as the heart beat of the side, his 100 percent application was sorely missed.

Fiji, for their part, broke New Zealand hearts in the other Cup semi, William Ryder scoring a sudden death extra time try for a 22-17 win after Tafai Ioasa's fine effort had drawn Gordon Tietjens' young side back level at the death. Scant consolation for New Zealand now, but Tietjens will revel in the fact that future stars have been found in the likes of Jane, Raikabula and Pelenise.

Cup quarter-finals:
M29: England 19-15 Argentina
M30: South Africa 26-5 Australia
M31: New Zealand 45-0 Canada
M32: Fiji 29-5 France

Cup semi-finals:
M39: England 40-0 South Africa
M40: New Zealand 17-22 Fiji

Cup Final:
M44: England 38-5 Fiji

PLATE COMPETITION:

The Pumas of Argentina recovered from a disappointing tight loss to England in the Cup quarter-finals to beat France 21-5 in the Final of the Plate and capture eight points for the season's standings table.

France have unearthed fine prospects in Kopetzky, Dulin, Carmona and Boussuge, but the Pumas' renowned defence and tough counter-attacking again saw them home as tries for Francisco Bosch, Nicolas Bruzzone and Francisco Merello proved too much against France's sole effort from Jerome Naves.

Plate semi-final:
M37: Argentina 19-12 Australia
M38: Canada 14-20 France

Plate Final:
M43: Argentina 21-5 France

BOWL COMPETITION:

Scotland beat Tonga 26-21 to win their second Bowl Final in two weeks in the first match between the two sides since the very first IRB Sevens series in 1999.

The Scots fought back magnificently against Samoa to make the Final and then had to come from 14-0 down and also tie it up at the death to take the Final into extra time against Tonga.

In the sudden death play-off Nick De Luca, not for the first time, was in the right place at the right time to seal victory for Scotland. Tonga, for their part, had outmuscled Uruguay in their semi, scoring seven tries to one for a 45-7 win.

Bowl quarter-finals:
M25: Kenya 7-21 Scotland
M26: Samoa 52-0 West Indies
M27: Tonga 55-0 Mexico 
M28: Uruguay 24-19 USA

Bowl semi-finals:
M35: Scotland 26-21 Samoa
M36: Tonga 45-7 Uruguay

Bowl Final:
M42: Scotland 26-21 Tonga

SHIELD COMPETITION:

Kenya had delighted their massed ranks of support by beating USA in the Shield final, Victor Sudi Simiyu starring with two tries in the 26-12 win.

Shield semi-finals:
M33: Kenya 38-5 West Indies
M34: Mexico 0-33 USA

Shield Final:
M41: Kenya 26-12 USA