South Africa ended New Zealand's dominance at the Commonwealth Games, winning the gold medal match in an enthralling final at a sold-out Ibrox Stadium 17-12.
Seabelo Senata stole the show, scoring his 10th and 11th tries of the Games to help the Blitzboks better their bronze medal from Delhi four years ago and become the first side to beat the All Blacks Sevens at the Commonwealth Games.
After a world-record 171,000 fans packed into Ibrox for two fine days of action, the crucial medal matches have provided more thrilling entertainment, two years before Sevens takes its place at the Olympic Games in Rio.
In the bronze medal match Australia, silver medalists four years ago, beat Samoa 24-0 thanks to two more tries for the impressive Greg Jeloudev in what was new coach Geraint John's first tournament in charge having made the switch from Canada last month.
The defending Commonwealth Games champions New Zealand booked their place in the gold medal final after a 19-7 win over Tasman neighbours Australia with Scott Curry scoring two decisive second half tries while Cornal Hendricks scored twice to give the Blitzboks a 35-7 win against Samoa in their semi final.
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England snatch Plate from Wales' grasp
In the second-tier plate, contested by the losing medal quarter-finalists, England, without injured skipper Tom Mitchell, beat Wales 17-15 with stand-in captain Phil Burgess scoring the winning try after the buzzer had sounded.
Simon Amor's England narrowly held on to beat Scotland 15-12 having led 15-0 in the semi final, while Wales defeated Kenya 28-5 with Lee Williams scoring two of their four tries.
White hat-trick guides Canada to Bowl
Disappointed to finish with two losses on day one, Canada recorded victory in the Bowl final with a 50-7 win against the Cook Islands including a hat-trick from Sean White.
They reached the final with a 32-0 win against Uganda with Mick Scholz scoring two tries in their semi final. The Cook Islands reached the final after Chad Tuoro's side won 24-12 against Papua New Guinea including a scintillating solo try from James Raea, his sixth of the Games.
Sri Lanka win the Shield
In the shield, contested by the losing Bowl quarter finalists, Sri Lanka proved too good in the final, beating Trinidad & Tobago 43-7 with captain Fazil Marija scoring 16 of their points.
Earlier they overcame Babados 34-0 to reach the final while Trinidad & Tobago defeated Malaysia 15-10.
Day one sessions - Pool rounds
Pool A – New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Barbados
Sir Gordon Tietjens' side began their fifth Games campaign with a 39-0 victory against Canada thanks to two tries apiece from captain DJ Forbes and Ben Lam, before Sherwin Stowers scored twice in an enthralling 17-14 defeat of Scotland and a final win, 59-0, against Barbados.
They were most uncomfortable against Scotland. Leading 17-0 in the second half they conceded two tries to Lee Jones but held on for a 17-14 win. If Scotland almost upset the favourites in that, their first match, they turned on the style in their second by beating Barbados 56-0 and then scored a crucial 21-5 win against Canada to reach the medal quarter-finals on day two.
After that initial chastening loss to New Zealand, the Canadians bounced back to beat the Bajans 68-5, captain John Moonlight scoring two tries and Nathan Hirayama adding 17 points, but their two losses mean the Canadians are out of the medal running.
Pool B – South Africa, Kenya, Cook Islands, Trinidad and Tobago
Seabelo Senatla scored a hat-trick in both of South Africa's first two games and another in their decisive win against Kenya as the Delhi bronze medalists topped their pool. The Blitzboks beat Trinidad and Tobago 38-0 and Cook Islands 50-0 to win a place in the medal quarter finals and then outclassed Kenya to win 20-0 in the final game of the first day.
Recently capped Springbok Cornal Hendricks scored a second half hat trick in a little over one minute against the Cooks as the Blitzboks built momentum and caught the eye on day one.
Two tries from Collins Injera helped Kenya to their opening 28-0 win against the Cook Islands and they then recorded a 35-5 win against T&T in the second session to book their place in the medal knock-outs.
The Cooks beat Trinidad and Tobago 33-10 with James Raea scoring a hat-trick.
Pool C – Samoa, Wales, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia
With former captains Lolo Lui and Afa Aiono back in the side, Samoa scored three opening victories to guarantee themselves a place in the quarter finals as top seed from their pool. Early on they beat fellow Oceania side Papua New Guinea 33-14 and in the second session they eased to a 54-0 win against Malaysia before a late 19-12 victory over Wales.
Wales are also still in the hunt for medals on day two after a 52-0 win against Malaysia and a 29-7 win over PNG.
Earlier the Papua New Guineans bounced back from their opening defeat to beat Malaysia 36-7, Albert Levi scoring twice, and their try against Wales also brought the biggest cheer from the generous crowd.
Pool D – England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda
2010 silver medalists Australia scored three wins in Pool D, crucially beating England in the pool decider in the day's penultimate match, 15-7. Earlier the Wallaby Seven beat Sri Lanka 62-7 with to 27 points from Cameron Clark, and Uganda 43-5 with four tries for Greg Jeloudev.
England earlier won their first two matches to book their place in medal knock-outs. Dan Norton, captain Tom Mitchell, Phil Burgess and James Rodwell all scored two tries in a 57-0 win against Sri Lanka and they then beat Uganda 40-0. They did, though, lose captain Mitchell against Australia to an injury which may end his tournament.
Uganda scored a memorable 17-14 win against Sri Lanka in the penultimate tie of the pool.
Tickets for the opening session of the final day may still be available - check online at www.glasgow2014.com/tickets.
Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens - Roll of Honour
1998, Kuala Lumpur - New Zealand
2002, Manchester - New Zealand
2006, Melbourne - New Zealand
2010, Delhi - New Zealand
2014, Glasgow - South Africa
