Aussies finish second in Canada

Mon, May 14, 2018, 12:07 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
It wasn't the result the Aussie Sevens were chasing in Canada but a silver medal finish means they still sit atop of the World Series ladder with one leg remaining. Check out the best of the action from Langford.

Australia's women's Sevens have finished second in the Canada Sevens, going down to New Zealand in the final.

After a dominant opening day, Australia beat Fiji and France on the way to the final, before suffering an embarrassing defeat to their fierce rivals in the Cup final.

They still sit four points clear on top of the World Series with just the Paris Sevens to go.

9:49am - World Series rankings

Australia's gap at the top of the World Series has narrowed to four after Canada.

Here's the top five, with one leg to go.

1. Australia - 74

2. New Zealand - 70

3. France - 54

4. Canada - 44 (PD +168)

5. USA - 44 (PD +166)

9:40am -  Cup final - Australia 0 - New Zealand 46

The New Zealand Sevens won the Canada Sevens. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyAustralia’s women have suffered their worst loss to New Zealand in the Canada Sevens Cup final, 46-0.

The Aussies, who beat New Zealand 31-0 just three months ago in a super Sydney 7s tournament, looked rudderless against the Kiwis in Langford.

New Zealand drew first blood, with Portia Woodman finding some space off a Ruby Tui pass ot score in the third minute.

Tui had her own just a minute later, as New Zealand began to really rake control of the match.

Australia battled at the breakdown, with the strength of Niall Williams over the ball.

A penalty from one of those breakdowns gave Kelly Brazier the chance to add a third Kiwi try on,

Woodman had her second just before half-time, again off a breakdown penalty, to put Australia in a 22-point hole at the break.

 Williams had another just after half-time, and by then it seemed Australia’s comeback chances had all but been snuffed, unable to hang onto the ball for more than two or three phases at a time.

A minute later, Williams had had her second, making i t New Zealand’s biggest score against New Zealand, but they weren't quite done, with Sarah Goss taking a quick tap over and Brazier sealing the deal with a try on full-time.

Australia is still on top of the World Series ladder, with one tournament to go.

6:54am - Cup final confirmed

Australia will play New Zealand in the Canada Sevens final. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyAustralia will play New Zealand in the Cup final in Canada at 9:20am AEST.

New Zealand romped home over the USA, 33-10, to set up yet another Cup decider against the Aussies and keep the World Series race well and truly alive.

That match will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS. 

RESULTS

Cup semi-finals

France 12 - Australia 17

USA 10 - New Zealand 33

6:32am - Cup semi-final France 12 - Australia 17

Evania Pelite scored the match-winner against France. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyAn Evania Pelite try after full-time has put Australia into the Canada Sevens final, after a 17-12 win over France.

France showed early on that Australia wasn’t going to have it all its own way, with some desperate defence stopping Emma Tonegato from scoring.

A yellow card for France’s Montserrat Amedee put Australia in the driver’s seat just before the break and Emma Sykes finally managed to slip through France’s grasp in the sixth minute.

Sykes took a Pelite pass and sprinted away down the middle of the field for the only try of the half.

France had the momentum in the second half and eventually the weight of territory paid off in a Camille Grassineau try.

Chloe Pelle dragged two Australian defenders over the line in the 10th minute and France snatched the lead for the first time, putting all the pressure on the World Series leaders.

Pelite gave Australia a much-needed linebreak and though a precarious inside pass hit the deck, Emilee Cherry cleaned up and scored under the posts.

Cherry wasn’t able to convert the most straightforward shot at goals, keeping scores level.

Extra-time was on the cards until a French pass went to ground and a string of Aussie passes finally led to a Pelite break on the left edge and this time she finished all on her own.

Australia will play in the Cup final at 9:20am AEST, against either New Zealand or the USA, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

3:43am - Cup semi-final fixture

Here's how the quarters unfolded this morning.

RESULTS

France 27 - Ireland 0

Australia 21 - Fiji 5

USA 28 - Canada 26

New Zealand 17 - England 12

FIXTURES

Cup semi-finals. Alll times AEST 

6:10am - France vs Australia

6:32am - USA vs New Zealand

3am - Cup semi-final - Australia 21 -  Fiji 5

Charlotte Caslick in action in the Cup quarter-final. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyAustralia’s women are through to the Canada Sevens Cup semi-finals, after a 21-5 win over Fiji. 

Fiji made an early mistake, giving the Aussies the first attacking chance and it though it took them a handful of attempts, ultimately a Fiji penalty gave Emma Tonegato an opportunity to open the scores.

The Fijians didn’t stop fighting, with their physicality troubling the Aussies, but it was the World Series leaders who managed to score.

Emilee Cherry found a try just on the stroke of half-time, scooping up a long inside Emma Tonegato pass to switch the pressure valve going into the break.

Australia looked like scoring straight after half-time, but a Tonegato pass missed its target, going into touch.

The Aussies struggled to find space in a suffocating Fijian defence, that continued to force their pressure, and the Pacific Islanders found some joy with a crucial turnover deep in their defence.

Fiji’s Ana Maria Naisami clinched a reply for Fiji but their optimism was snuffed out by a second Tonegato try.

Charlotte Caslick was impressive in defence for the Aussies, making nine tackles and showing her impact off the ball.

Australia will play France in the Cup semis at 6:10am AEST.

2:21am - Cup quarter-finals schedule

Here's how the Cup quarter-finals will play out on Monday morning (AEST)

France 27 - Ireland 0

Australia 21 - Fiji 5

USA 28 - Canada 26

New Zealand 17 - England 12

And, a reminder of Australia's squad.

SQUAD

Aussie women's Sevens for Canada Sevens 

1. Shannon Parry (c), 26 caps, QLD and Griffith University

2. Yasmin Meakes*, 1 cap, ACT and University of Canberra

3. Demi Hayes, 5 caps, QLD and Griffith University

4. Dominique Du Toit, 8 caps, QLD and Macquarie University

5. Emma Tonegato, 20 caps, NSW and University of Adelaide

6. Evania Pelite, 16 caps, QLD and University of Adelaide

7. Charlotte Caslick, 24 caps, QLD and Bond University

8. Page McGregor, 1 cap, NSW and Macquarie University

9. Emma Sykes, 8 caps, QLD and University of Queensland

10. Lauren Brown, 1 cap, QLD and Griffith University

11. Emilee Cherry, 27 caps, QLD and University of Queensland

12. Georgina Friedrichs, 9 caps, QLD and University of Tasmania

13th. Lillian Dick*, QLD and University of Queensland

*Uncapped on HSBC Sevens World Series

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