Lions victorious in all-GB Sevens clash in the capital

The GB Lions were crowned champions at Sevens and the City on Saturday night after beating the GB Royals 27-14 at Allianz Park.

Both teams won all four of their pool matches, beating Samurai and France in the semi-finals to set up an all GB final.

With five games in one day, Sevens and the City provided a punishing schedule for both teams, but one that will have put the players to the ultimate test with just over two weeks until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games squad is announced.

Head coach Simon Amor said: "It has been an amazing day with some outstanding individual and team performances.

"In the last game, with the Lions and the Royals going toe to toe, the competitive edge and the quality of the rugby was of the highest level and I'm absolutely delighted.

"Both teams were pushing for the win, you could see how much the outcome meant to them.

"Individuals clearly wanted to perform well but it was the team win that they desperately wanted and that was clear in the way the Lions celebrated their victory at the end.

"It was brilliant, it shows how close all the guys have become in a short space of time and that, combined with brilliant individual displays, is what you want as a coach."

The GB Lions took the lead in the opening minute, when Mark Robertson scored an impressive try from broken play, followed by a simple conversion from skipper Luke Treharne.

The Royals were quick to respond as Dan Bibby scored a sublime solitary try, and with Tom Mitchell scoring the conversion, brought the scores level once more.

James Rodwell wrestled the ball over the line from a few metres out to give the Lions the advantage again, before Robertson scored his second of the game to take the score to 17-7.

Sam Cross brought the Royals back into contention once more with a second half try, which, with another Mitchell conversion, took his side to within three points of the Lions.

But with only two minutes left on the clock, the Lions pulled further ahead through Lee Jones who touched down in the corner, before Gavin Lowe wrapped up victory with a try in the final play of the game.

Sportsbeat 2016