Bangkok International Rugby Sevens: Hartlepool clinch trophy

Hartlepool clinched silverware at the Bangkok International Sevens when they beat Lao Nagas 19-5 in the Shield final.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Nov 2017, 08:01 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 11:21 BST
Hartlepool and Lao players after the Shield final, which Hartlepool won 19-5Hartlepool and Lao players after the Shield final, which Hartlepool won 19-5
Hartlepool and Lao players after the Shield final, which Hartlepool won 19-5

A repeat of the first match of the tournament, the united town squad scored three second-half tries through Jack McCallum, Liam Austwicke and Liam Bailey to beat the Laos national side.

Lao Nagas took a sixth-minute lead when they ran in an unconverted try following a tap penalty.

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They almost had another but for a superb last-ditch Lee Maddison tackle.

But Hartlepool showed they were made of stern stuff when they fought back in style, leading try scorer McCallum making a 50-metre break from half-way to score under the posts. Cameron Lithgo added the conversion to give his side a 7-5 lead.

And the proud Pool men returned to the attack and despite heroic Lao defence, Austwicke went over with Lithgo again adding the extra points.

There was more to come as McCallum, Alex Rochester and Adam Smith all handled in a great attack down the left which skipper Liam Bailey finished off in the corner.

Hartlepool came close to a fourth when Alex Bayliss powered down the left, but John Bickerstaff and Michael Ainslie's team ended worthy winners of an entertaining consolation final.

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