O'CONNOR COMBING PARADISE FOR 7S STARS

Hyperion Paradise 7s: Australian coach Michael O'Connor is on a scouting mission at this weekend's Hyperion Paradise 7s on the Gold Coast - and the prize will be the two vacant positions up for grabs in the Australian team for next week's first leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series at Skilled Park.

O'Connor names his 12-man Australian squad on Monday to take on the best 7s teams in the world at the "Gold Coast Sevens - Fever Pitch" tournament next Friday and Saturday.

Injuries from last week's Noosa International 7s have left him short on personnel but several players in his Aussie Thunderbolt team for the Paradise event, which will conclude at Carrara tomorrow, could find themselves elevated for the main event.

Australian team manager Luca Liussi said O'Connor addressed the Thunderbolts in a team meeting on Friday, out-lining the importance of the Paradise tournament.

"There is a great opportunity awaiting two boys who can show they deserve selection in the team for the World Series opener," said Liussi.

"We have recruited several new faces into the Thunderbolts team for the Paradise event who will get an opportunity to show their wares.

"Mick certainly laid it on the line and it's up to the boys to grab the ball with both hands. It is certainly a wonderful incentive and a chance to represent Australia."

The Thunderbolts, made up of a host of emerging stars, a collection of established 7s players and former Newcastle Knight, Marvin Karawana, struggled in their opening encounter, scraping home 19-17 against the Country King Browns.

They then proved too strong for the Gold Coast Breakers, running in four tries to one in a convincing 28-5 win to continue their march through Pool D, with Hamish Angus, Bill Meakes and Allan Fallavea the stand-outs.

Other impressive performers on day one of the two-day tournament included the NewStar Sports team who went through their three Pool A games unbeaten - accounting for Hong Kong Dragons (24-12); the Country King Browns 29-7 and the South Sea Drifters 19-12.

And O'Connor could well be throwing his net wider than the Thunderbolts , to include some of the stand-out players for NewStar, including captain, former Fijian Under 20 captain Junior Rasolea and Jake Milne, who have been stand-out players for NewStar.

The URL Samurai, made up of players from the New Zealand National 7 Champions Auckland, were also impressive, opening their account with a 28-17 win over Fijian outfit Island Breeze, before being held to a 12-12 draw by another Fijian out fit Matai Sports Red Rock and then coming from behind to beat Sunnybank 28-14.

The Hong Kong Dragons, despite their 24-12 first up loss to NewStar came back strongly to down the Drifters 27-7 and the Country King Browns 52-0.

In the women's competition, the Aussie Pearls kept up their amazing unbeaten, defensive record in tact beating Murri Magic 34-0, Tonga 33-0 and Sunnybank 31-0.

The Chris Lane coached Pearls have now won their last 13 games to nil, including their 10 games at the Central Coast 7s and the Noosa International 7s.

Shannon Parry has led the try-scoring onslaught with five tries, followed by Kristy Giteau, captain Rebecca Tavo and Sharni Williams two each while Lizzy Campbell, Alexandra Hargraves, Emilee Cherry and Debby Hodgkinson crossed for one try each.

RESULTS

Hyperion Paradise 7's 2011: Cararra Sporting Complex: Gold Coast: Day One:

Men:

Round One:

Pool A: Newstar Sports 24 (J Rasolea, T Linde, J Milne, E Hagen tries, J Milne 2 con) d Hong Kong Dragons 12 (A McQueen 2 tries, K Robertson con)

Drifters (Fiji)14 (D Rokolati, M Koroibeta tries H Seavula 2 J Vosuga con) d Country King Browns 7 P Nelson tries, P Nelson con)

Pool B: Matai Red Rock (Fiji) 26 S Matlewena, R Qoro, I Dauniasauty 2 tries, A Niaikoro A Tanoia, I Dauniasauty con) d Sunnybank 7 (M Feaunati tries H Jones con)

ULR Samurai (NZ) 28 (J Tupe, B Lam, M Fekitoa, T Sauileose tries, R Khan 2, F Falanil Ahki 2 con) d Island Breeze 17 (K Kalo, T Nawaikalam 2 tries, K Kalo con)

Pool C: Warwick Bombers 19 (B Johnston, Z Bashford, A Jones tries, A Walker 2 con) d PNG Barbarians 5 (J Missian tries)

Daveta (Fiji) 36 (M Garland 3, P Natviisa, J Ravueta, S Gavidi tries, R Vatvinaruku 3 con) d NT Mosquitoes 0

Pool D: Aussie Thunderbolts 19 (H Angus, A Fallavea, J Brown tries H Angus 2 con) d QLD Country Heelers 17 (M Langmack L Fesolai, J Sykes tries M Langmack con)

Hamilton Old Boys (NZ) 19   (D Stewart, K Adams, M Kenny tries, K Adams 2 con) d Hyperion Breakers 17 J Edmonds 2, C Matnhera tries, C Manhera con)

Round Two

Pool A: Newstar Sports: 29 (J Rasolea, M King, J Lalagaves, E Hagen 2 tries, J Rasolea 2 con) d Country King Browns 7 (P Nelson tries, P Nelson con)

Hong Kong Dragons 27 (A McQueen, K Robertson 2, T McQueen tries, A McQueen con) d Drifters 7 (M Koroibeta tries, M Koroibeta con)

Pool B: Island Breeze 24 (T Tuianvavou 2, I Droka, M Rosuaki tries, K Kalo 2 con) d Sunnybank 17 (R Tapuai, P Lee, R Setu tries, W Petaia con)

ULR Samurai 12 (L Visiuia, M Fekitoa tries, L Visiuia con) draw Matai Red Rock 12 (J Vota, I Dauniasauty tries, I Tuiniakoro con)

Pool C: PNG Barbarians 22 (M Diave, D Guise, H Liliket 2 tries, J Missian con) d NT Mosquitoes 17 ( V Naivalu, S Kouferedi, W Sekitolta tries, S Kouferedi con)

Warwick Bombers 26 (N Valekapa, S Brandon, A Walker, A Jones tries, A Walker 3 con) d Daveta (Fiji) 7 S Gavidi tries, R Vatuinaruku con)

Pool D: Aussie Thunderbolts 28 (B Meakes, H Angus, A Fallavea, N Malouf tries, H Angus 3, A Fallaea con) d Hyperion Breakers 5 (B Wilson tries)

Hamilton Old Boys 24 (D Kirkpatrick, R Williams, M Kenny, R Helagi tries, K Adams 2 con) d QLD Country Heelers 12 (B Mitchell, J Sykes tries, M Langmack con)

Round Three:

Pool A: Hong Kong Dragons 52 (K Kwok 2, R Varty 3, A McQueen 2, T McQueen tries, K Robertson 6 con) d Country King Browns 0

Newstar Sports 12 (J Rasolea, M King tries, J Rasolea con) d Drifters 10 (A Vasvitosa, D Rofolati tries)

Pool B: Matai Red Rock 12 (S Matlewena, I Tuiniakoro tries, N Sikeli con) d Island Breeze 5 (I Droka tries)

ULR Samurai 28 (L Visiuia, B Lam 2, T Sauileose tries, L Visiuia 2, T Sauileose 2 con) d Sunnybank 14 (P Lee, K Robertson tries, H jones 2 con)

Pool C: NT Mosquitoes 17 (R Butcher, V Naivalu, S Kobar tries, S Kouferedi con) d Warwick Bombers 0

Daveta 31 (P Natviisata 2, R Vatuinarulu, A Delai 2 tries, R Vatuinaruki, S Naoasima, K NauQe con) d PNG Barbarians 17 (C Kakah, H Liliket 2 tries, R Tokauai 2 con)

Pool D: QLD Country Heelers 33 (E Suavai, C Saltmere, C Blair, L Fesolai 2 tries, M Langmack 4 con) d Hyperion Breakers 14 (S Hoskins 2 tries, C Matnhera 2 con)

Aussies Thunderbolts 28 (B Meakes, L Crook, H Angus2 tries, H Angus 4 con) d Hamilton Old Boys 14 (K Adams, R Helagi tries, K Adams con)

Women:

Round One:

Pool A: Tonga 21 (A Havo 3 tries; P Losanine 3 con) d Sunnybank 14 (U Bai, W Pio tries, T Harden 2 con)

Aussie Pools 34 (S Parry 3 tries, S Williams, I Batibasaga, L Campbell tries, S Parry, B de la Cruz con) d Muri Magic 0

Pool B: Eastsyde 41 (A Gilbert 3, T Tupuhi 2, C Grant, A Brider tries,  A Gilbert 2, T Tupuhi con) d Mr Erica 0

Pool C: Nerang 17 (A Stone, S Stowers, S Elfast tries, R Tuahuru con) d Sydney 10 (A Rutlidge, N Green tries)

Kusa 38 (T Ruby 3, H Hurring 2, E Prescott tries, Z Berry 4 con) Cook Islands 0

Round Two:

Pool A: Sunnybank 12 (U Bai, K Lurran tries D Phillips con) d Murri Magic 0

Aussie Pearls 33 (D Hodgkinson, R Tavo, E Cherry, K Giteau 2 tries C Campbell 2, R Tavo 2 con) d Tonga 0

Pool B: Arongatahi 47 (S Kaokao 2, N Irimana, A Kani 4 tries, C Leaupepe, A Kani, S Woodman 4 con) d Mt Erica 0

Pool C: Sydney 7 (L Tipene tries, L Tipene con) draw Cook Islands 7 (A Brigginshaw tries, A Brigginshaw con)

Kusa17 (L Ryan, O Coady, H Hurring tries, Z Berry con) d Nerang 12 (A Stone 2 tries, N Kara con)

Round Three:

Pool A: Aussie Pearl 31 (A Hargreaves, S Parry 2, S Williams, R Tavo tries, C Morgan 2, B Delacruz con) d Sunnybank 0

Tonga 14 (A Manu, P Losanine tries, P Losanine 2 con) d Murri Magic 12 (N Gala 2 tries, V Viti con)

Pool B: Eastsyde 24 (C Grant, T Tupuhi, L Could, S Rowlands tries, L Gould 2 con) d Arongatahi 0

Pool C: Nerang 31 (A Stone, D Fraser 2, S Elfast, B Johnson tries, D Fraser 2, N Hake con) d Cook Islands 7 (N Marstors tries, E Marshall con)

Kusa 24 (T Ruby, O Bird, H Hurring 2 tries, Z Berry 2 con) d Sydney 5 (T Drmsby tries)