By Mark Etheridge
South Africa’s Blitzboks sevens side got their World Series off to a winning start in Dubai on Friday.
They beat continental counterparts Uganda 19-10 in their opening Pool A game.
Coach Neil Powell’s men looked somewhat ring-rusty but will no doubt soon hit their straps as the tournament progresses.
Going into the game Uganda had never scored a point against the Blitzboks and the South Africans led 14-0 at halftime.
First Ruhan New went over after the first set-piece move of the match after some good work by Cecil Afrika to break the line.
Halfway through the first stanza captain Philip Snyman shrugged off a clutch of defenders to dot down just left of the posts.
Both scores were converted and it could have been even more had speedster Seabelo Senatla not knocked on with the try line begging.
Uganda hit back early in the second half when Solomon Okia scored his first try and his country’s first points against SA.
But soon after Tim Agaba crashed over some more good initial work from Africa.
That wrapped up the scoring for the Blitzboks and there was still time for Philip Wokorach to score Uganda’s second try as he went over after a good break on the blindside.
South Africa’s other two games of day one are against Kenya (12.34pm SA time) and Canada (5.51pm).