ALL FIJIAN AFFAIR IN INAUGURAL GOLD COAST 7'S SUCCESS
November 8: In an all-Fijian affair, the South Sea Drifters ran out winners over the Uprising Beach Resort in a hard fought Cup final at the Hyperion Gold Coast International 7's on the Gold Coast today.
But it was the Uprising boys who opened the scoring with a surprise try to Waisea Vuidravuwalu in the opening minutes of the game.
The Ropate Filipe Turagayawa conversion gave the Uprising team a 7-0 lead and they looked set to cause their "big brother" a major headache.
But the well drilled more experienced Drifters hit back with tries to Kiniviliame Radaveta and Erueli Naivukedrau - whose outstretched one-arm try just before half-time was a crucical moment.
The play see-sawed back and forth in an enthralling second-half with spectacular plays, especially from inspirational Drifters captain Daniele Tabuakuru.
His hard running and bone-crunching defence captivated the vocal 5000 strong crowd.
It appeared the final score would eventually be 10-7 until Inia Danasauta scooped up the ball from the back of a ruck and skipped over under the posts to put the result beyond doubt.
Radaveta converted to make the final score 17-7 and to give the Drifters the inaugural Hyperion Cup trophy and a cheque for $20,000.
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But the Drifters were lucky to make it to the final, after they came from behind in extra time to beat the emerging Queensland Barbarians in a heart-stopping semi-final.
The Barbarians led until the final seconds when the Drifters scored after the bell and then scored again early in the first half of golden point, to win 19-14.
The Uprising team were too classy for the Aussie Spirit team that will represent Australia in the IRB World Series in Dubai next week, in the other semi-final,running out winners 26-19.
The women's final saw the talented Eastsyde Women's outfit run out four tries to one winners over the star-studded Sydney team, 26-7, with Shannon Parry scoring twice for Eastsyde.
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The crowd were treated to women's rugby at it's best, with Moana Virtue and Catherine Tipene also crossing for Eastsyde and 
Kristy Giteau putting on a spectacular runaway try for Sydney.
Tournament director Luca Liussi said he was delighted with the success of the two-day event, which attracted some of the best Rugby 7's players from Australia and the South Pacific.
"Rugby 7's has arrived on the Gold Coast in a big way and to have so many great players and great teams support the event augurs well for a very bright future," said Liussi.
In the other finals:
- Griffith defeated arch rivals Bond University 12-10 to win the Dr Tom Nutley University Challenge.
- The Gold Coast Eagles 20 defeated Island Breeze
7 to win the Shield final.
- Brisbane Nadi 40 were far too strong for Country King Browns 7 in the Bowl final, while;
- The Aussie Legends 22 hung on to beat Sunnybank 19 in the Plate final.
RESULTS
2009 Hyperion Gold Coast International Rugby 7s: Albert Park: Gold Coast:
Day 2:
Men:
Cup:
Quarter Finals: South Sea Drifters 38 d Samoa Virgin Blue Islanders 12 QLD Barbarians 52 d Sunnybank 12 Aussie Spirit 50 d Aussie Legends 0 Uprising Beach Resort 36 d MRDC Menjals (PNG) 5
Semi Finals: South Sea Drifters 19 d QLD Barbarians 14 Uprising Beach 26 d Aussie Spirit 19
Final: South Sea Drifters 17 (K Radaveta, I Danasauta, E Naivukedrau tires; K Radeveta con) d Uprising Beach Resort 7 (W Vuidravuwalu try, R Filipe Turagayawa con)
Plate:
Semi Finals: Sunnybank 14 d Samoan Virgin Blue Islanders 12 Aussie Legends 26 d MRDC Menjals 19
Final: Aussie Legends 22 (E Power, P Fou, P Donnelly, J Samoa tries; J Samoa con) d Sunnybank 19 (C Matehaere, D Routledge, S Seuili tries; C Matehaere, D Routledge con)
Bowl:
Quarter Finals: Brisbane Nadi 33 d Norths 19 Warblers 21 d Island Breeze 19 Country King Browns 21 d Eagles 7 Gold Coast Breakers 31 d Souths 10
Semi Final: Brisbane Nadi 29 d Warblers 0 Country King Browns 21 d Gold Coast Breakers 19
Final: Brisbane Nadi 40 (K Robertson 2, A Tuqiri, T Kuridrani, T,Savou A Rokocoko tries; A Tuqiri 3, Rasolea 2 con) d Country King Browns 7 (L Samoa try; A Walker con)
Shield:
Semi Final: Island Breeze 29 d Norths 15 Shield Eagles 12 d Souths 10
Final: Eagles 20 (A Rankin 2, J Brown, A Rankin tries) d Island Breeze 7 (A Kalioni try, Serevi W con)
Women:
Semi Finals: Eastsyde Brisbane 43 d Drake Insurance GC 0; Sydney Women 34 d Outkast 0
3rd place play off: Outkast 17 (T Tupuhi 2, Sa'u tries; Briggshaw con) d Drake Insurance GC 5 (Spili D try)
Final: Eastsyde Brisbane 26 (Parry S 2, Tipene C, Virtue M tries; Campbell C 3 con) d Sydney Women 7 (Giteau K, Morgan C con)
University Cup Challenge: Griffith University 12 (L Swift, A Ashton tries; L Swift con) d Bond University 10 (E Berstein, L Minaar tries)
Top Try Scorers
SURNAME FIRST TEAM
TRIES
Sills Clinton Aussie Spirit 7
Murphy Dallan QLD Barbarians 6
Rawaqa Dan Samoan Virgin Blue Islanders 6
Donnelly Paul Aussie Legends 5
Fou Bama Aussie Legends 5
Karauria - Henry Brackin Aussie Spirit 5
Tavaga Nacanieli Brisbane Nardi 5
Sykes Joel GC Breakers 5
Levi Jr. Albert MRDC Menjals 5
Samoa Jacob Norths 5
Top Point Scorers
SURNAME FIRST TEAM T C TOTAL
Murphy Dallan QLD Barbarians 6 5 40
Filipe Turagayawa Ropate Uprising Beach 3 11 37
Sills Clinton Aussie Spirit 7 35
Danny Routledge Sunnybank RUC 5 5 35
Levi Jr. Albert MRDC Menjals 5 3 31
Lucas Ben QLD Barbarians 3 8 31
Rawaqa Dan Samoan Virgin Blue Islanders 6 30
Samoa Jacob Norths 5 2 29
Samoa Luke Norths 4 4 28
Top Try Scorers - Women
SURNAME FIRST TEAM TRY
Giteau Kristy Sydney Women 10
Gilbert Aimee Eastsyde Brisbane 8
Parry Shannon Eastsyde Brisbane 8
Turner Amy Eastsyde Brisbane 6
Morgan Cobie - Jane Sydney Women 5
Hodgkinson Debby Sydney Women 4
Top Point Scorers - Women
SURNAME FIRST TEAM T C TOTAL
Morgan Cobie - Jane Sydney Women 5 18 61
Giteau Kristy Sydney Women 10 50
Gilbert Aimee Eastsyde Brisbane 8 40
Parry Shannon Eastsyde Brisbane 8 40
Campbell Cheyenne Eastsyde Brisbane 17 34
Turner Amy © Eastsyde Brisbane 6 30
The Hyperion Gold Coast International 7's Key Rugby Facts
- A total of 359 tries scored
- A total of 2203 points scored
- Averaging 6 tries per game
- Averaging 37 points per game
- 44 men's games over 2 days
- 14 women's games over 2 days