Speedster stars in big wins

NZ debutant Tamati Ellison floors American captain David Fee. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Wellington speedster Roy Kinikinilau revealed his star quality at the international sevens tournament today, scoring four tries in New Zealand's tournament opener.

Kinikinilau sent the mostly manic Westpac Stadium crowd into a frenzy as he blitzed the hapless Kenya with his pace and anticipation to give New Zealand an easy 40-7 win. Later, he was in try-scoring action again, crossing once in the defending champions' 43-0 win over the United States.

New Zealand set up a quarter-final date with Samoa when they beat Fiji 26-7.

The contest was effectively ended when Fiji's Mosese Yabakitini was sinbinned in the opening minute for being offside.

In his absence New Zealand crossed for three first-half tries for what turned out to be an unassailable lead.

Their first match turned into a gala for Kinikinilau as the big winger strolled through the Kenyan defence with three tries in the first half as the hosts dominated possession.

Kinikinilau's first two five-pointers came easily as he capitalised on fumbled ball with New Zealand cruising to 14-0 inside the first three minutes.

Kenya, quarter-finalists last year, struck back after Victor Simiyu scythed through a gap, but Kinikinilau streaked down the touchline with a 30 seconds remaining to give them a 19-7 lead at halftime.

He was back in scoring mode from the kick-off, and with a fend and big sidestep ran 60m to dot down between the posts.

He was subbed off shortly afterwards, but tries from Isaia Toeava and Ellison gave New Zealand a comfortable win, despite Edwin Cocker's late sinbinning.

Against the US, Kinikinilau crossed the tryline just once, while captain Liam Messam and the impressive Tafai Ioasa scored a double.

New Zealand, who are gunning for a third consecutive title in Wellington, started rapidly, with Ioasa touching down inside 30 seconds.

Messam then scored in the corner untouched while Orene Ai'i showed some deft footwork before lobbing a pass to Ioasa, who crossed again.

The halftime score of 17-0 was quickly inflated when Kinikinilau dotted down between the posts.

Debutant Tamati Ellison showed a fine step to break the defence, stretching the lead to 29-0. Tries to Marc Camburn and Messam sealed an easy but rusty win.

In other matches, South Africa showed their class in pool C with a 31-7 victory over Scotland followed by a 50-0 dismantling of Japan and a narrow 19-17 win against France.

Argentina proved unstoppable and kept a clean sheet in their first two pool D matches with big wins over Tonga and the Cook Islands 41-0 and 40-0 respectively to storm into the quarter-finals.

They beat Australia 15-7 in the late match.

Australia earlier downed the Cook Islands 28-12 and Tonga 24-5.

In pool A England beat Canada 31-5, Niue 41-7 and Samoa 21-10.

In the quarter-finals, England meet Fiji, Argentina take on Scotland and South Africa clash with Australia.

- NZPA