Carlton Super 7s:

Eagles, Sharks deliver giant killing performances

By Dilanka NANAYAKKARA

The Eastern Eagles were the giant killers by beating the champs of the first leg North Western Blacks 26-14 on the first day of the Carlton Super 7s held at Police Park yesterday under lights in front of a massive crowd who cheered and danced to the beats of papare bands and beautiful cheer leaders.

The Eagles in Group 'A' who were quite ordinary in Kandy showed their brilliant performance by crushing the strong Central Kings side by 33-07.

English try machine Simon Hunt was on fire in that game and the moment of the day came when Eagles winger Anurudha Wilwara sped his way through the fastest winger in 7s Dan Norton of Central Kings to score.

Skipper Muthuthanthri and workaholic Sam Edgerly also scored for the Eagles.

The Eagles best performance came when they met firm favourites and champs North Western Blacks - who were comprehensively beaten 26-14.

It was the only defeat for the Blacks who powered their way to three wins and a solitary loss. Samoan speedster Tom Lesafo although small in stature not slow in pace raced his way to a hat-trick of tries for the Eagles. The Central Kings gave a major scare to the Blacks when the two giants met earlier in the day. Kings who employed the tactic of having all local players during the first 10 minutes of the game were on song early on and former Kingswood skipper Rajitha Sansoni scored twice within a space of minutes. However, the Kiwi All Black power was too much for the Kings to handle as Shane Christie and Frank Halai proved their class to win the game 19-12. The star studded Uva Vipers who are in Group 'B' had a fabulous outing on the first day.

The team led by D.J. Forbes were on song from ball one and their big guns Tomasi Cama and Charles Piutau blasted their way through to score a spring of tries. They crushed the Northern Gladiators 35-12 but then the game of the day one was witnessed as Kandy leg runners-up Southern Sharks were playing their best rugby of the tournament and the Vipers were shell shocked as the Sharks won the game 24-19 of a last second try.

The Sharks led by Kiwi nationals Joshua and Benjamin played brilliantly. Sharks also won the last game of the day 17-07 by beating Northern Gladiators. Srinath Sooriyabandara of the Sharks and Nigel Ratwatte of Central Kings were the local stars who played their hearts out on the first day.

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