Oceania Sevens: Aussie women claim title in thriller

Sat, Nov 10, 2018, 7:40 AM
AAP
by AAP
Australia are the Oceania 7s champs. Photo: Oceania Rugby Media
Australia are the Oceania 7s champs. Photo: Oceania Rugby Media

Australia's women's Sevens side have beaten New Zealand 14-10 to claim Oceania 7s glory.

Tries to young gun Page McGregor and boom rookie Hagiga Mosby were enough to get the Australians over the line against their arch rival but it was their defence which stole the show.

There was a little less to like about the men's campaign.

After falling to New Zealand in their semi final they also dropped their third place playoff match against Samoa.

Check out how the day unfolded below.

6:25pm - Aussie women stave off Kiwis to claim crown

Australia’s women started in more pleasing fashion than their male counterparts.

They drew first blood through Mosby and when McGregor strolled over the line with 30 seconds to play in the first term a 14-0 lead had opened up.

Neither side were playing their superstars but a few of Australia’s regulars in the female fold could do with some of the physicality shown by the next generation.

Australia's defence pressured the Kiwis. Photo: Oceania Rugby MediaA rock solid defensive line and similarly improved work at the breakdown forced the Kiwis into uncharacteristic handling errors and from those, Australia capitalised.

New Zealand did their fair share of capitalising as well - scoring a pair of tries either side of half time to set up the grandstand finish all the neutral Fijians fans were hoping for.

But through some awful refereeing the Australian defence held firm and forced another mistake, booting the ball into touch to record a breakthrough win.

5:45pm - Samoa stun Aussie men

Samoa drew first blood but a John Porch double quickly erased the deficit and some, earning the Australians a 12-7 lead just after half time.

Those 12 points were more a result of a grind than any glamour plays and when Samoa hit back with one minute to play a grandstand finish awaited the Australians.

But Lewi Holland’s pass to Nick Malouf sailed behind the former Leicester winger time was up and the Australians were shifted off the podium by Samoa in a rather stunning result.

1:40pm - Men forced to fight for third

Tim Anstee and the Australian men struggled on Saturday. Photo: Oceania Rugby MediaAustralia's men have fallen to New Zealand in their Oceania 7s semi final.

The 14-5 loss was a hard fought affair, the Kiwis crossing twice in the first half before Australia scored with one minute to play in the second term.

A miracle comeback was not on the cards, though, Australia forced to settle for a bronze medal match against 5:16pm AEDT.

11:45am - Aussie men, women both progress

Australia's perfect record at the Oceania Sevens remains intact after both the men and women cruised to victory on Saturday.

It was the Lewis Holland-John Porch show in Australia's quarter final win over Wales, the former nabbing one try and the latter a double in the 19-7 win.

The women, led by a Cassie Staples double, proved far too good for home crowd favourites Fiji.

They will face New Zealand in the Oceania 7s final at 5:37pm AEDT.

The men will also face New Zealand in a semi final at 1:12pm AEDT.

FIXTURE

Saturday November 10. All times AEDT

Men's playoffs

Quarter-finals

9am - Australia vs Tonga

9:21am - New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea

9:42am - Samoa vs Cook Islands

10:03am - Fiji vs New Caledonia

Semi-finals

12:30pm - Fifth place semi-final - Loser Australia/Tonga vs Winner New Zealand/Papua New Guinea

12:51pm - Fifth place semi-final - Loser Samoa/Cook Islands vs Loser Fiji/New Caledonia

1:12pm - Winner Australia/Tonga vs Winner New Zealand/Papua New Guinea

1:33pm - Winner Samoa/Cook Islands vs Winner Fiji/New Caledonia

Finals

2:49pm - Eleventh place playoff

3:10pm - Ninth place playoff

3:52pm - Seventh place playoff

4:34pm - Fifth place playoff

5:16pm - Third place playoff

6:03pm - Championship final

Women's playoffs

Semi-finals

11:06am - New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea

11:27am - Australia vs Fiji

Finals

3:31pm - Seventh place playoff

3:52pm - Fifth place playoff

4:13pm - Third place playoff - Loser Australia/Fiji vs Loser New Zealand/PNG

5:37pm - Championship final - Winner Australia/Fiji vs Winner New Zealand/PNG

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