Wales began the first day with a comfortable win over comparative newcomers, Spain. Rhodri McAtee set Wales on a winning course with a try and conversion and when Dafydd Hewitt took a quick tap penalty close to the tryline, the Sevens hooker had the strength to force his way over to give the Welsh side a 12-0 interval lead.
A fine solo effort from Richie Pugh at the beginning of the second half and the conversion by substitute Lee Williams virtually wrapped up the tie. However, there was still time for further scores, two by substitute James Lewis, either side of a fine effort from Spain by Pedro Martin, which gave Wales a 31-7 win.
Then, in their second pool match, Wales met a strong and physical Canadian side and had to be patient before making an initial breakthrough with a solo try from the pacy James Lewis. Just before the break Richie Pugh escaped up the left touchline to give his side a 12-0 half-time lead.
In the second half, Aled Brew used both pace and craft to add try number three and it was left to substitute Tal Selley to round off Wales’s scoring with a long run-in for a try under the posts and an easy conversion for a 24-7 win and a place in the quarter finals of the Cup.
So to the crunch match against London winners, Samoa, to decide the group winners. Wales started confidently with a try by Tal Selley, converted by Lee Williams, and then from the restart shocked the Samoans with an instant score, this time by skipper Johnathan Edwards.
But from a tap penalty, veteran Uale Mai slipped in for a converted try to erode the Welsh lead. Then in the second half Lee Williams created a scored for Edwards with the sweetest of off-loads. The game continued to go for Wales as Tal Selley used his pace to run in try number four, Rhodri McAtee adding the conversion.
Samoa hit back with a converted Tom Iosefo try but it was all too late for the Pacific Islanders leaving Wales deserved winners and savouring a top finish in their group.
Emirate Airline Edinburgh Sevens Cup Quarter finals:
New Zealand v Scotland
Fiji v Samoa
Wales v France
South Africa v England
Wales Sevens squad for Edinburgh Sevens (May 31/June 1)
Johnathan Edwards (Captain, Scarlets), Richie Pugh (Cardiff), Dafydd Hewitt (Blues), Andy Powell (Blues), James Merriman (Neath), Lee Williams (Llanelli), Rhodri McAtee (Cornish Pirates), Aled Thomas (Dragons), Nick MacLeod (Blues), Will Harries (Northampton Saints), James Lewis (Dragons), Aled Brew (Ospreys), Tal Selley (Dragons)
