NZ remain on track in sevens

 GLASGOW: Four-time champions New Zealand remained on track to add an unprecedented fifth Commonwealth rugby union sevens crown to their accolades after surviving a Scottish scare on the first day’s action on Saturday.

In a fantastic promotion of a high-octane sport that will feature at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the games came thick and fast in front of a raucous capacity crowd at Ibrox Stadium, home to European football giants Rangers.

After easily seeing Canada off 39-0 in their opening Pool A game, the All Blacks struggled to a 17-14 victory over hosts Scotland.

The Scots, boasting full internationals Stuart Hogg and Sean Lamont in their ranks, fought back from a 17-0 deficit with Lee Jones and Scott Wight both crossing for tries.

New Zealand then saw Gillies Kaka and Tim Mikkelson yellow carded for ball-killing infringements, and reduced to five, Jones crossed for his second for the Scots, Wight converting to cut the margin to three with one minute to play.

The Kiwis, however, had enough guile and experience to slow play down, hold on to possession and not give Scotland a chance to exploit its two-man advantage one more time. – AFP