Hastings has last laugh in quality 10s showing

GAVIN Hastings, captain of Five Nations wooden spoon finishers Scotland, was the victim of an announcer's barb at the Carlsberg International 10-a-side tournament yesterday but had the perfect riposte by guiding the Quality Street Gang Exiles into an attractive-looking Cup quarter-final against Natal Pelicans.

Announcer Nigel Clark greeted Hastings' try against the Old Blues with a sarcastic: ''It's nice to see the Scottish captain go over for a try once this season.'' After a jocular exchange during which he asked Clark if he wanted to take the conversion, Hastings added a further two points and then went on to score a second try in the QSG Exiles' 24-7 win which saw them top Pool C with three victories.

Despite having Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol, number eight Doddie Weir and England forward Jason Leonard in the team, Hastings does not think it's strong enough to lift the title.

''We'll certainly give the Cup a good shot but I don't think we are good enough to win,'' said Hastings before rushing off for a night's racing at Sha Tin.

Former Hong Kong captain Pieter Schats was happy with the way the Natal Pelicans, a team drawn from his old club in Durban, powered past the Acorn Club, Asian Cavaliers and ISCI Indonesia to top Pool B.

Last year's winners Aliens and beaten finalists White Hart Marauders look a class above the rest again this year and a repeat of the 1993 final, which was disappointingly one-sided, looks on the cards.

The difference this year is that the Marauders have the players to compete with the no-nonsense New Zealand forwards who stamped their authority on the 1993 encounter.

''We have the physical presence in the forwards and pace in the backs. It's the ideal combination, the question is whether it will come right on the day,'' said captain Colin Hillman, after his side reached the last eight with wins over Hong Kong Combined Forces (53-0), Irish Survivors (29-0) and hosts Football Club (38-7).

Marauders will play Old Blues, one of the two best runners-up, in their quarter-final while Aliens face Hong Kong Barbarians who beat last year's Plate winners Sydney Schooners 24-12 in one of the most keenly contested matches of the day to win Pool A.

New Zealanders Scott Pierce, Kevin Sculer, Mark Finlay, Chris O'Neill and Richard Norton were focused from the start as the Aliens swept aside Vancouver Rowing Club (36-5), Panaga Brunei (47-0) and Jeddah Mazda (54-0).

Hong Kong Barbarians looked sharp in their final match against the Schooners and could give Aliens some worrying moments.

''They controlled the ball well and looked for the gaps,'' said coach Jim Rowark, after the wins over Hong Kong Dragons (63-5), Tokyo Gaijun (26-5) and the Schooners. ''Against Aliens we will just have to try and retain possession and hope the gaps open up.'' England Classicals, whose combined international caps almost equal their combined ages, had three triumphs to set up a quarter-final with Schooners, who qualified for the Cup because of their runners-up record in Pool A.