Australia drop Hong Kong Sevens opener

Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 11:58 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
There will seven debutants and two players retuning from extended time away for the Aussie Sevens in Hong Kong tomorrow. The side finalised their preparations ahead of the most anticipated leg of the World Series.

Australia's sole pool match on day one at the Hong Kong Sevens is in the books.

A shock loss to Spain in their tournament opener leaves them requiring two wins on Saturday, against Canada and Kenya, if they are to be any hope of progressing to the Cup quarter finals.

Here's how the match panned out on Friday night.

9:55pm - Spain 17 Australia 12

Australia have suffered a shock defeat in their Hong Kong Sevens opener, falling to Spain after the final siren.

Spain scored the opener under the sticks through Inaki Villanueva, Nicky Price bundled into touch with Australia’s first chance moments earlier.

The Aussies responded through Sam Figg with a try under the dot of their own, Henry Clunies-Ross throwing a perfectly timed pass to put him over.


Clunies-Ross scored a try of his own with a minute remaining in the first term, Harrison Goddard throwing the final pass.

Ignacio Martin returned serve for the Spaniards, levelling the scores at 12-all with five to play.

All the ball was Spain’s from that point forward and two minutes after the final siren rung out they scored the winner to shock the Australians.

9:15pm - Aussies tune up for tournament opener

The Aussies were put through their paces in their captain's run, ahead of their opener against Spain.

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