HONG KONG, March 30: Holders England beat eight-time winners New Zealand 22-17 to retain their Hong Kong Sevens title on Sunday after running in three second-half tries.

But the tournament was marred by a sharp drop in attendance as rising cases of a deadly pneumonia virus kept fans away.

Winger Richard Haughton was the architect of England’s win, bagging two of their three second-half tries after the Kiwis had led 12-5 at halftime.

Ugo Monye and Henry Paul scored a try apiece and Simon Amor added a conversion for England. Earlier, England beat 10-times winners Fiji 24-19 in the semi-finals.

Argentina, Italy and France pulled out of the event earlier because of the virus. They were replaced by Namibia, Tonga and the Netherlands.—Reuters