Fiji beat South Africa 26-24 in the Final at the Hong Kong leg of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series on Sunday.

Fiji led throughout a pulsating final and although South Africa responded heroically to match them try for try, Springbok captain Mzwandile Stick was left with a conversion from near the touchline to tie with the last kick of the game.

He missed narrowly to spark jubilant scenes of celebration for Fiji's players and fans, who have had to wait since the Adelaide tournament in April 2007 before claiming this most recent success on the IRB Sevens World Series.

However, the 24 points South Africa get as runner's up put them well clear at the top of the IRB Series standings on 84 points — followed by England on 68.

Fiji leap-frog New Zealand into third place on 62, with the Kiwis (60) and Argentina (56) not far behind.

South Africa advanced to the Final with an impressive 29-3 win over Samoa, while Fiji eased passed crowd favourites Kenya (24-7) in the semifinals.

iafrica.comlooks at all the final day's action!

Bowl quarterfinals:

Alisi Tupuailei scored a first half hat trick to give Japan a 19-0 lead against Sri Lanka. The Cherry Blossoms then held on in the second half as the Sri Lankans scored two tries, before finishing strongly to win 26-10. They now play Portugal, for whom Pedro Leal scored three tries in a 33-5 win against China.

In the other Bowl semi Uruguay face Zimbabwe. Los Teros beat a massively improved West Indies 21-12, Andres Lussich scoring two tries, and a Gordon Pangeti hat trick helped Zimbabwe to a 40-14 victory against Chinese Taipei

Results:
Match 37: Japan 26-10 Sri Lanka
Match 38: China 5-33 Portugal
Match 39: West Indies12-21v Uruguay
Match 40: Chinese Taipei 14-40 Zimbabwe

Plate quarterfinals:

A hat trick by Simon Bouty was enough to take France through to the Plate semis win a 17-7 victory over Korea, and the French now play Tonga, who romped past a wilting Scottish side 29-0, Sosaia Palei and Ualosi Kailea each grabbing a brace.

In the other of the draw DHT van der Merwe was outstanding in setting Canada on their way, scoring one try and creating others in the Cannucks' 26-5 win over hosts Hong Kong. Canada now face Wales, who won the tightest of all the quarters against USA 22-21, Jevon Groves crossing for the World Champions' clincher. Arron Bramwell, Jimmy Norris and paceman Ifan Evans also touched down.

Results:
Match 41: France 17-7 Korea
Match 42: Tonga 29-0 Scotland
Match 43: Hong Kong 5-26 Canada
Match 44: United States 21-22 Wales

Cup quarterfinals:

Kenya and Fiji provided the two biggest shocks of the day by beating New Zealand and England in the Cup quarters. Innocent Simiyu scored either side of the break for the Kenyans in reply to Zar Lawrence's try, a second successive victory for the Africans over Gordon Tietjens' side this season.

Fiji led England at half time through Emosi Vucago's unconverted try but Rob Vickerman broke clear to score under the posts in the second period and England led by two tantalising points entering the final seconds. With Vickerman sin-binned, Fiji spread the ball wide from a penalty to score through Pio Tuwai and clinch a semi final place.

South Africa were the first team to win through to the Cup semifinals with a 24-10 win against battling Australia, who now travel home for their home event the Adelaide International Sevens next weekend. Ryno Benjamin scored a try in each half as the Boks built on a 12-5 half time lead. Robert Ebersohn scored early on and Luke Morahan's effort made it competitive at half time, but Renfred Dazel and Benjamin sparkled in the second half, each touching down for a try. Damon Murphy scored a late consolation for the Aussies, who take eight points towards their Series tally.

The Boks now face Samoa, who had Lolo Lui to thank for kicking a last second penalty drop goal to win 15-12 against World Cup runners-up Argentina. Samoa took a 12-0 lead through tries by Fa'osiliva and Iosua but the Pumas hit back to level through Bustos Moyano (2), before Lui's late intervention.

Results:
Match 45: South Africa 24-10 Australia
Match 46: Samoa  15-12 Argentina
Match 47: New Zealand 7-10 Kenya
Match 48: Fiji 10-7 England

Bowl semifinals:

Pedro Leal scored three tries against China and then put in a high class performance alongside captain Diogo Mateus and Aderito Esteves, to claim a Bowl Final place with a 26-10 win against Japan.

The Portuguese face Uruguay in the final after they followed a 21-12 win against a massively improved West Indies side with a 28-14 victory against Zimbabwe.

Results:
Match 49: Japan 10-26 Portugal
Match 50: Uruguay 28-24 Zimbabwe

Plate semifinals:

Tonga and Canada have each won through to the final of the Plate. The Tongans beat off the stiff challenge of France 19-10, Sosaia Palei (2) and Ualosi Kailea scoring first half tries to lead 19-5 and Jacques Boussuge's second half score nothing more than a consolation for the French. Earlier the islanders romped past a wilting Scottish side 29-0, the same two try scorers each grabbing a brace.

In the other half of the draw Adam Kleeberger and DHT van der Merwe were outstanding in first setting Canada on their way in the Cannucks' 26-5 win over hosts Hong Kong and then against World Champions Wales in the semi final. Canada put in a typically abrasive performance to score three tries to two, Kleeberger with a brace and Sean Duke with one, to reach a first final of the season.

Results:
Match 51: France 10-19 Tonga
Match 52: Canada 19-10 Wales

Cup semifinals:

South Africa won through to only their third ever Hong Kong Sevens Cup final with a 29-3 victory over Samoa. Lolo Lui notched an early drop goal for the Samoans but thereafter the match was dominated by Paul Treu's side with Renfred Dazel outstanding. Frankie Horne's try initially put them ahead and they led 14-3 at the break after Robert Ebersohn's score. The Boks then laid on a Sevens masterclass, Dazel himself kicking a penalty drop goal before crossing for a try and Ryno Benjamin rounded off the scoring.

Iliesa Tanivula's new crop of Fijian talents then reversed the World Cup quarter final result against Kenya, putting in an outstanding performance to win 24-7 and reach a first Cup final of the season. Pio Tuwai was in inspirational form as the islanders crossed for four tries by Seremaia Burotu (2), Emosi Vucago and Vereniki Goneva.

Results:
Match 53: South Africa 29-3 Samoa
Match 54: Kenya 7-24 Fiji

Bowl Final:

Portugal beat off the fine challenge of Uruguay to win the Bowl trophy, 14-12. The Portuguese were made to defend for long periods of the match as Los Teros applied pressure but their famous defence held out and both tries by Frederico Oliveira and Joao Mirra were converted for a 14-0 lead. Ignacio Conti and Santiago Corracedo hit back for Uruguay but they were left to rue a missed conversion. 

Result:
Match 55: Portugal 14-12 Uruguay

Plate Final:

Tonga broke Canadian hearts by scoring a try with the last play of the match, and kicked the conversion to win 14-12 and take the Plate title. The Canadians led 12-5 at the break after Sean Duke and DTH van der Merwe's tries were pegged back by Peasipa Moimoi and they looked set for victory until Nili Latu's late try was cooly converted by Moimoi.

Result:
Match 56: Tonga 14-12 Canada

Cup Final:

Fiji won a gruelling Final 26-24 to clinch a famous victory against South Africa on Sunday.

Fiji led throughout a pulsating Final and although South Africa responded heroically to match them try for try, Mzwandile Stick was left with a conversion near the touchline to tie with the last kick of the game.

He missed narrowly to spark jubilant scenes of celebration for Fiji's players and fans, who have had to wait since the Adelaide tournament in April 2007 before claiming this most recent success on the IRB Sevens World Series.

Result:
Match 57: South Africa 24-26 Fiji

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