University of Queensland and UTS on top of their pools after day one of the Aon Uni 7s
The Aon Uni 7s kicked off today, showcasing the talents of women’s sevens across the country.
In its fourth year as the premiere sevens competition in Australia, a new format has been introduced that splits the competition between New South Wales and Queensland. This weekend’s regional rounds are being played concurrently at Woollahra Oval in Sydney and Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane.
With the Australian Women’s Sevens players not joining the competition until round 2, a number of players pushed their case for selection into the wider training squad, with some new stars emerging during a dazzling display of rugby. The big upset of the day was Newcastle University beating University of Sydney, while University of Queensland and UTS looked strong in their respective pools.
Here is how the action unfolded:
Round 1 Brisbane
09:00 UQ V Melbourne
UQ came out with high energy for the first game of the day, and Renae Nona showed great hands to put away Giverny Robinson for the score in the first two 2 minutes, after a quick tap exposed holes in Melbourne Uni’s defence.
Melbourne hit back, with veteran Mel Kawa offloading the ball to Halley Derera, who won the foot race down the left hand touchline.
Robinson scored in the corner for UQ, followed by a try to Nona through the middle on halftime.
Wallaroos scrum-half Georgia Cormick sparked Melbourne into action, providing great service to Derera to beat her opponent on the outside for a 45-metre try.
Caitlin Urwin put the game away with a late try, as UQ’s expansive play proved the difference.
FT 26-12
09:20 Griffith V Adelaide
Two evenly matched teams went head-to-head for the second game, and Adelaide Uni started strong with two quick tries to Alice Gregory and Lauren Potter, before a turnover from Kiri Lingman inspired a Terri-Anne Egan hit back for Griffith Uni.
The Romas went off the boil after halftime and Griffith seemed rejuvenated, leading to a great offload by Kahli Henwood setting up a Georgina Friedrichs score, followed by another try from Egan.
Griffith shut out the game with aggressive defence, Henwood and Ivana Lolesio combined for some scores to put the result beyond doubt.
FT 26-12
Round 1 Sydney
11.07 University of Sydney V UTS
For the first game in Sydney, UTS Captain Mahalia Murphy led-out a team brimming with talent to take on an impressive University of Sydney side.
UTS were first on the board, as Tiarne Cavanagh beat Piper Duck to score after capitalising on a turnover, but the lionesses hit back immediately after a burst from Wallaroo Grace Hamilton set up a try in the corner.
Mia Wood showed some electric pace to finish a tough fought try after pinning Sydney Uni in their 22, but they hit back with a try from Margot Vella.
Off the kick restart Murphy set up Betty Koula for a UTS try, and Margot Vella once again pulled it back for Sydney Uni to even-up the game in the final minute. Murphy was strong all day with good carries and vision setting up a number of opportunities for UTS.
FT 15-15
11.30 Newcastle V Canberra
The seahorses came out firing early showing moments of incredible skill. Exciting prospect Jess Southwell put in a full length grubber and got an incredible offload away to set-up Kaitlan Leaney.
The “Leeton Express” Tess Staines hit back off the kickoff to go the full length to score, with a sideline conversion from Ella Ryan.
Southwell then set herself up for a try with grubber and recover, displaying great vision. Canberra blew a potential length-of-the-field try after Lily Mason-Spice couldn't get the ball away to her support just before half time.
Young talent Trudi Peterson came off the bench for Necastle to close out the game with a well-worked try. It was an entertaining matchup, with Newcastle proving the surprise packet with young Southwell carving up all game.
FT 17-5
Round 2 Brisbane
11.20 Griffith V Melbourne
Melbourne got on the scoreboard first through a try to Halley Derera, showing incredible pace down the sideline, but Griffith hit back with a Georgia Friedrichs try just before the half.
A double for Tiana Raftstrand-Smith in quick succession allowed the Griffith team to wrap-up that game, finishing strong in a scrappy match.
Friedrichs was the difference with her leadership around the park and heads-up play, with the travel factor starting to show early for the Melbourne side.
FT 19-7
11.40 UQ V Bond
The rivalry on the 7s field between UQ and Bond continued, and there was plenty of feeling in the opening moments of the match, before Georgia Sims exposed UQ’s slow defence to score the opening try.
UQ‘s Renae Nona crashed over following patient play and some good touches from Nat Wright. Steph Rutherford ran onto a clever pop ball and used her footwork and speed to streak away for a Bond try.
The highlight of the game was a massive hit from UQ that forced a turnover, setting up a fantastic score for Sidney Taylor right on halftime that drew the scores level.
UQ pulled away after half time with tries to Caitlin Urwin and Mackenzie Sadler, until Rutherford got her second try of the game for Bond. The game was decided moments later by Amber Kimmel, sealing the game for UQ.
FT 33-19
Round 2 Sydney
13.20 University of Sydney v Canberra
Syd Uni were too strong for Canberra from the get-go, shaking off the cobwebs of their first round match and putting in clinical performance. Claudia Nielsen showed a fast pair of heels to slice up the Canberra defence for the opening try, and quickly backed it up with a double from a crisp pass by Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer.
From there Sydney Uni heaped the pressure on Canberra. Ella Ryan and Lily Mason-Spice created a few opportunities but fatigue set in towards the end of the game. A late try to Tessa Staines was not enough for Canberra.
FT 19-7
13.45 UTS V Newcastle
Off a stolen lineout, Maya Stewart carved up the defence to get an early score for UTS. They followed it up by pinning Newcastle in their own 22 and forcing a turnover, going in near the posts.
Captain Murphy put Tatum Bird away down the sideline for a try and Skye Churchill diced up Newcastle with some sharp stepping.
Newcastle were able to pressure the UTS defence, leading to a wayward kick which was quickly returned as Southwell showed skill to score in the corner.
A try to Betty Koula negated a comeback from Newcastle, as a Maddie McArthur pop-ball allowed Courtney Currie to beat a defender and score. To close the gap Southwell finished with another try, cementing her as a rising star of the tournament.
FT 31-19
Round 3 Brisbane
13.40 Bond V Griffiths
Bond got off to an early lead with two tries, before Griffith hit back before halftime through a try to Ivania Wong.
Following the break, Griffith kept the ball alive, before Terri-Anne Egan spotted a gap in the defence off the ruck to go in untouched by the posts.
Bond was able to strike back, with Caitlyn Costello showing some blistering pace down the sideline.
A yellow card to Sophie Quirk led to another try to Wong, with a missed conversion from Griffith giving Bond the win.
FT 19-17
14:00 Adelaide V Melbourne
The opening try came from Roma after quick hands led to a length-of-the-field try from Lauren Potter, followed-up with a breakaway try from Taj Heald off a turnover.
Potter got her second late in the game, before Halley Derera showed her speed once again to get Melbourne on the scoreboard before the final whistle. With that win, the Romas fired off a warning shot to the competition, showing they are no easy-beats.
Melbourne showed good patches and were tenacious in defence, led by Mel Kawa, but weren’t able to capitalise on opportunities.
FT 21-7
Round 3 Sydney
15.35 Newcastle V University of Sydney
Newcastle got off to a thrilling start, as Jessica Gentle toed ahead and regathered over the line off an early loose pass from Sydney Uni, and a breakaway try from Southwell towards half time.
Uni got back into the game via tries from Faitala Moleka and Isla Norman-Bell.
Newcastle put the pressure on Uni all game with some stiff defence and some pivotal over-the-ball work from Courtney Curry, and caused the upset of the round by hanging on for a famous win.
FT 14-10
16.00 UTS V Canberra
In the final game of the day in Sydney, UTS ran out sporting a colourful alternative kit for their game against Canberra. UTS struck quick through a fantastic individual effort from Mahalia Murphy.
Canberra then fired back with two tries from speedster Tess Staines. UTS got back in the game with a 60-metre break from Olivia White and a Tiarne Cavanagh try in the corner.
Canberra got a score with Lily Mason-Spice crashing over from 5-metres out following a high tackle from Maya Stewart, but it wasn't enough as UTS confirmed their position as competition favourites.
FT 21-15
Round 4 Brisbane
16:00 Bond V Adelaide
Caitlyn Costello opened up the scoring with a heads-up play to score out wide.
Alice Gregory returned serve for Adelaide, putting on a goose-step and using her exceptional pace to burn the opposition on the outside.
From there Bond ran away with the game, with Costello getting her second score, and Georgia Sim, Ellie Draper and Teagan Levi all crossing over.
Fatigue played a part as the Romas weren’t able to match Bond for pace and execution.
FT 29-5
14.20 UQ V Griffith
The two most impressive teams clashed for the final game of the day. It was an arm-wrestle in the first half, before Griffith’s Goergina Friedrichs broke through for the first try.
UQ quickly countered through thanks to a double from Kaitlin Shave. Friedrichs got a double of her own after halftime.
UQ managed to close out the game when Isabella Nasser provided a terrific flick-pass to put Mackenzie Sadler in for the match winner.
FT 21-12
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