In an impressive display of Sevens rugby, Wales dominated from start to finish ensuring that the east Africans were never allowed to express what is their considerable talent.
“We knew we had to come up with a victory in this opening game. We were pleased that we denied them any score but that was all about maintaining intensity after we had run in two tries,” said skipper Jonathan Edwards.
Wales opened the scoring with try and conversion by their young outside half Gareth Owen before Aled Brew raced in at the corner for an unconverted score.
WRU Audio: Sevens Coach Gareth Baber
Then when Lee Williams dodged through a bemused Zimbabwe defence and Owen converted Wales had established a 19-0 lead. Two tries on wither side of the interval by Edwards were further crushing blows but there was still time for a final effort, this time replacement Alec Jenkins touching down in the corner to complete a satisfactory performance by Wales.
In Saturday’s second session of the three-day tournament in Hong Kong, Wales play Korea before they play the top seeds in pool D, Fiji in what will be a testing tie.
Wales Sevens squad: Johnathan Edwards (capt, Scarlets), Richie Pugh (Cardiff), James Merriman (Neath), James Harris (Dragons), Lee Beech (Neath), Tom Riley (Blues), Lee Williams (Llanelli), Robert Lewis (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Aled Brew (Scarlets), Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Owen (Ospreys)
