FORMER Worcester Warriors wing Uche Oduoza was among the try-scorers as England thrashed Portugal 31-7 in the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens.
Oduoza was joined on the scoresheet by debutants Josh Drauniniu and Greg Barden, while Isoa Damudamu and Chris Cracknell also touched down. A first-half try from Vasco Uva was the only consolation for Portugal.
After seeing off Portugal, England booked a date with Argentina in the quarter-finals with victories over USA and Fiji.
England strolled to a 24-10 win over the Americans before sealing a 28-5 shock success against the Pacific Island side.
Oduoza set up the first score for England against USA after laying the ball off to skipper Ollie Phillips to cross and convert his own try.
The USA hit back with an unconverted score, before Rob Vickerman sent England in at the break 12-5 up.
England were reduced to six-men following the sin-binning of Damudamu for a technical offence and the Americans went over for another unconverted try.
Phillips grabbed his second try of the match five minutes into the second-half before Damudamu made a scoring return.
Springing the surprise on Fiji started after just only three and a half minutes as Damu-damu broke down the left to score early. Then came a try from Oduoza, who scored on the right to break the monotony and give England a 14-0 lead at the break.
In the second-half, Micky Young took a ball from a lineout close to the line to crash over before Fiji finally got on the board in the 12th minute of the game through Vereniki Goneva, who found a gap straight down the middle.
England sealed the game through Damudamu a minute from time.
Meanwhile, England Sporting Chance Women, including Worcester’s Jo Hubbleday (nee Yapp), booked their place in the semi-finals of the Dubai Rugby Exiles Sevens with wins over the Wooden Spoon team and the Pink Baa Baas.
The England side rounded off their pool matches with a 19-0 victory over the Wooden Spoon team.
The England side then met the Pink Baa Baas in the quarter-finals and stepped up the pace to record a 38-0 victory, thereby booking their place in the tournament’s final four.
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