Aussie women top pool in Paris

Fri, Jun 8, 2018, 6:33 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
The Aussie Sevens are a step closer to their second World Series title, topping their pool on day one of competition at the Paris Sevens. Check out the best of the action from their wins over Fiji, Russia and Canada.

The Aussie women's Sevens have finished on top of their pool in Paris, securing a cup quarter-final spot.

Comfortable wins over Fiji, Russia and Canada secured their final eight spot, keeping them on track as they vie to take the cup.

Australia needs only to make the Cup final to secure the World Series title for the second time in three seasons, with the Olympic champions currently holding a four-point lead over New Zealand in the overall standings.

4:33am - Australia 31 - Canada 14

Australia’s women have made it through day one undefeated in Paris, after a 31-14 win over Canada.

The Canadians burst out of the blocks, making Australia defend for the best part of the first two minutes, before the Aussies’ pressure forced Canada into a knock-on.

Emma Tonegato made the Canadians pay with the first Australian attacking chance, with the speedster wrong-footing Canada’s defence to score.

A perfect dummy pass opened up a gap for Emma Sykes to score Australia’s second as the half-time break approached, and a quick tap gave her a double right on the whistle.

It took just 50 seconds after half-time for Tonegato to notch up her own double, streaking away down the left edge to score.


Charity Williams hit back for Canada, and Sykes was sent to the bin, putting some pressure on the Aussies.

Tonegato broke into space, looking for her third try, but opted for an inside pass to put Dom Du Toit on the line to score right under the posts.

Canada weren’t done fighting, with Sara Kaljuvee powering over the line, to narrow the margin to 17 points with a minute to go, and that was where things finished.

Australia will play in a Cup quarter-final at 12:30am Sunday morning, streamed on worldrugby.org.

1:48am -Australia 24 - Russia 20


Australia is in the box seat to top its Paris Sevens pool, surviving a scare to notch a 24-20 win over Russia.

Emilee Cherry had the first for the Aussies, but Russia hit back through Alena Mikhaltsova almost immediately, in a tight clash.

Caslick had a second for Australia just before half-time, and a stolen lineout helped the Aussies to another attacking chance, with Yasmin Meakes scoring before half-time.

Russia was first out of the blocks in the second with Baizat Khamidova slipping out of Australia’s grasp to score in the eighth minute, making the game a nine-point equation.

Emma Tonegato made an opportunistic break but was stopped short by a desperate Russian defence, forcing the Aussies to go side-to-side, eventually putting Demi Hayes over.


A super Evania Pelite chase stopped Mikhaltsova from getting her second, lifting the pressure off Australia in the final minutes.

They couldn’t stop the Russians a minute later when Elena Zdrokova beat the Aussie defenders to the line.

Zdrokova had another less than a minute later, making the margin just four points with 13 seconds to go, but Australia managed to hang on for the win.

Australia takes on Canada in the final pool match at 4:12pm AEST.

11:03pm - Australia 24 - Fiji 10

Australia has edged out Fiji in their first Paris Sevens clash, victorious 24-10 in the Pool B match.

It was a hard-fought match, with Australia pulling away in the final stages, as the World Series leaders began to settle into the game.

After an early arm wrestle, Dom du Toit drew first blood for Australia, giving the Aussies the initial advantage.


A yellow card for Fiji just shy of half-time gave Australia an extra advantage, but they weren’t able to capitalise before the break.

Australia looked to strike immediately in the second half, and Cassie Staples reape dthe reward for the Aussies with their second of the match.

Du Toit had her second with three minutes to go, finishing off a chain of attacking passes to score, and Charlotte Caslick scored the sealer with just over a minute to go.

A last-gasp Fiji try narrowed the gap, but the score came too late for the Islanders to clinch  an unlikely victory.

The Aussie women take on Russia in their second match of the day, at 1:28am AEST.

10pm - Aussie information


Everything you need to know before the Aussie women kick off their Paris campaign.

SQUAD

Australian women’s Sevens squad for Paris Sevens

1. Shannon Parry, co-captain, 27 caps QLD and Griffith University

2. Yasmin Meakes, 2 caps, ACT and University of Canberra

3. Demi Hayes, 6 caps, QLD and Griffith University

4. Dominique Du Toit, 9 caps, QLD and Macquarie University

5. Emma Tonegato, 21 caps, NSW and University of Adelaide

6. Evania Pelite, 17 caps, QLD and University of Adelaide

7. Charlotte Caslick, co-captain, 25 caps, QLD and Bond University

8. Page McGregor, 2 caps, NSW and Macquarie University

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

10. Lauren Brown, 2 caps, QLD and Griffith University

11. Emilee Cherry, 28 caps, QLD and University of Queensland

12. Cassandra Staples, 6 caps, NSW and University of Canberra

13. Georgina Friedrichs, 10 caps, QLD and University of Tasmania

FIXTURES

All times AEST.

Friday June 8 

Australia vs Fiji, 10:44pm

Saturday June 9

Australia vs Russia, 1:28am

Australia v Canada, 4:12am

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