DUBAI: England rode good fortune all the way to the Dubai Sevens rugby title after beating defending world series champion Samoa 29-21 in the final Saturday. England came from 21-12 down with seven minutes to go by scoring three late tries to win the series-opener in Dubai for the third time, beside 2004 and 2005. After Oliver Lindsay-Hague touched down twice in the first half to have England trailing only 14-12 at halftime, Alafoti Fa'osiliva scored Samoa's third converted try for a nine-point lead. But Simon Hunt led England's comeback with the first of three successive tries, followed by Dan Norton's go-ahead try as he dragged two Samoans over the line, and Mat Turner's clincher in the last minute. Simaika Mikaele, Ofisa Treviranus also scored tries for Samoa, all of them converted by Fautua Otto. England was fortunate, after a stunning opening loss to Portugal, to make the knockout stages with a last-gasp try from Hunt against Fiji in their last pool game. Then in Saturday's quarterfinals, England beat Australia 24-21. England was far more impressive in beating defending Dubai champ New Zealand 19-14 in the semifinals. The Samoans pasted the United States 38-5 in the quarterfinals then needed a dramatic late corner try from Otto to squeeze past Fiji 24-21 in the semifinals. In the other quarterfinals, New Zealand drubbed Wales 35-7 and Fiji edged South Africa 21-19 from 19-7 down with two minutes left. South Africa ended up winning the plate from Australia, Argentina won the bowl and Kenya the shield.
