GAME BY GAME: Women take out Dubai title, Men rally to finish seventh

Sun, Dec 1, 2024, 8:20 PM
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by LIVE
Faith Nathan bags her 100th career try against China in the opening game of SVNS Dubai

The 2024-25 SVNS World Series gets underway as the teams head to Dubai for the opening round.

Both Australian sides begin new eras with quarter-finals after an eventful off-season, with Scott Bowen coaching the Men ahead of Liam Barry's impending arrival as coach.

Catch every game of SVNS World Series LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.

The Men's side defeated Great Britain to finish seventh following a tight defeat to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

For the Women's side, Bella Nasser's first event as captain ended with a title as they took down New Zealand 28-24 in the Final.

Kiiahla Duff, Piper Simons and Kahli Henwood will make their World Series debuts, with the team fresh off a Grand Final win last season.

Follow a recap of all the action, game by game below:
Australia Women 54 v China Women 0

Australia have sent a message with a 54-0 victory over China.

The Aussies got off to a flyer as Faith Nathan stepped past multiple defenders for her 100th try of the World Series.

Nathan got her second right before the break, with Maddison Levi also crossing for a double for a 28-0 lead at the break.

Levi completed her hat-trick to start the second half, with Heidi Dennis making an instant impact off the bench with a pair of tries, including a lovely volley and pick-up from the former Junior Matildas star.

Ruby Nicholas brought up the half-century with a late try as the Aussies cruised home in a morning that saw Olympic silver medalists Canada and SVNS Grand Finalists France defeated by Japan and Spain respectively.

Australia Men 0 v South Africa Men 17

South Africa have taken down Australia 17-0 to keep their hunt for six straight Dubai titles alive.

The South Africans struck through Quewin Nortje in the third minute as the Blitzboks brought a strong squad to Dubai.

Tristan Leyds extended their lead to 10-0 at the break, with Nathan Lawson denied a try before half-time thanks to a great cover tackle.

Leyds crossed for his second after the break to seal the win for the South Africans

Australia Women 42 v Fiji Women 7

Australia have made it two from two with a 42-7 win over Fiji

Maddison Levi picked up where she left off with a stunning first half display as she scored the opening two tries of the game.

Fiji got on the board but Levi got her third when she somehow caught the loose ball in her legs, re-gathered, broke two tackles and scored.

Demi Hayes celebrated her return to the series with a second half try, followed over by Teagan Levi.

Sister Maddison completed her remarkable game with her fourth try of the game to seal the win.

Australia Men 10 v France Men 14

Australia's comeback has fallen short, going down 14-10 to France.

Australia started fast as Nathan Lawson’s kick from halfway allowed James Turner to race clear, pick it up and score the opener.

A superb tackle from Turner stopped a certain French try as the Aussies held tough for a 5-0 lead at the break.

Jordan Sepho put France in front to start the second half to spark them to back-to-back tries.

The Aussies mounted a fightback as debutant Aden Ekanayake powered his way over to reduce the margin, however, couldn’t find a winner as the French held on.

Australia Women 24 v Ireland Women 5

Australia are into the quarter-finals in style after a 24-5 win over Ireland.

The Australian turned defence in attack when some dogged defence was rewarded with Maddison Levi’s eighth try of the day after a Charlotte Caslick kick from inside their 22.

Ireland hit back through Meg Burns, only for Caslick to leave them grasping at air as she sprinted away for the response and a 12-5 half-time lead.

Caslick and Levi combined again to put the flyer over for her second to start the second half.

Faith Nathan sealed the win with a minute to go to cap off a perfect day for Tim Walsh’s side.

Australia Men 31 v Kenya Men 14

Australia has delivered their best performance of the day with a 31-14 win over Kenya.

The Australians entered the game needing to win by more than seven to stay alive and started strong through Michael Icely.

Icely turned provider for Hayden Sargeant, with Kenya hitting back to reduce their lead to three points before half-time.

A yellow card to Kenya allowed Sargeant to cross for his second, diving on the loose ball over the line, with Nathan Lawson crossing after the break to extend the lead.

Henry Hutchison added to the dream second half as the Australians cruised home for the victory to advance to the quarter-finals

Australia Women 39 v Canada Women 0

Australia have avenged their Paris Olympic defeat with a 39-0 win over Canada.

Maddison Levi added to her freakish run with her tenth try of the weekend for the opener.

She added her second a minute before the break, with Faith Nathan’s try in the corner giving the Aussies a 19-0 lead at halftime.

Levi’s hat-trick was completed early in the second half before skipper Bella Nasser, Demi Hayes and Nasser sealed the win in the final two minutes.

Australia Men 20 v Argentina Men 22

Australia have gone down to Argentina 22-20 in an epic quarter-final.

The Australians needed a fast start and got it after a brilliant solo try from Henry Paterson.

Argentina levelled but Paterson’s second brought up his 50 on the World Series.

A yellow card to Henry Hutchison allowed Argentina to score either side of half-time to take the lead.

Matt Gonzalez’s five-pointer got Australia back into the match but Santiago Alvarez restored Los Pumas’ lead.

Paterson gave Australia hope with his third try but James McGregor couldn’t convert the try as Argentina held on.

Australia Women 35 v Great Britain Women 7

Australia will hunt for their fifth straight Dubai title after thumping Great Britain 35-7 in the semi-finals.

Faith Nathan continued her great tournament to get the opener and her sixth try of Dubai with a great step and try.

Teagan Levi added to the lead before sister Maddison Levi won the race to the loose ball for another five-pointer and a 21-0 lead at the break.

Levi scored her second from the second half kickoff and whilst GB got on the board, Charlotte Caslick put the game well out of reach with two minutes left,

Australia Men 17 v Great Britain Men 12

Australia has finished seventh with a 17-12 win over Great Britain.

The Henrys combined for the opener as Hutchison took the initial carry, with Paterson finding Palmer in the corner.

GB hit straight back with two straight tries to take a 12-5 lead into half-time, with the Aussies reducing the margin from the kickoff after great work from Nathan Lawson batted the ball back into Aden Ekanayake’s hands as the debutant raced clear.

As the game went down to the wire, the Aussies turned to their strike weapon Paterson, who brushed away the defence to score with 90 seconds left.

The Brits had one last chance to attack, but the Australians held tough to secure the win

Australia Women 28 v New Zealand Women 24

Australia have taken out the Dubai title with a 28-24 win over New Zealand.

The Aussies started fast through Faith Nathan for a 14-0 lead before the Kiwis launched a comeback.

The defending Olympic gold medalists took the lead with three minutes to go, before Maddison Levi's intercept try restoring their lead.

The Kiwis hunted for a late winner as Tim Walsh's side held strong and produced the win.

Australia Women’s Sevens team for Dubai SVNS

1. Piper Simons*

3. Faith Nathan

5. Teagan Levi

7. Charlotte Caslick

9. Tia Hinds

10. Isabella Nasser

11. Demi Hayes

12. Maddison Levi

13. Heidi Dennis

15. Kahli Henwood*

23. Ruby Nicholas

28. Kiiahla Duff*

65. Sariah Paki

*denotes debutant

Australia Men’s Sevens team for Dubai SVNS

1. Henry Hutchison

2. Ben Dowling

3. Henry Palmer

6. Henry Paterson

7. James McGregor

9. Matt Gonzalez

10. Ben Dalton

12. Nathan Lawson

14. James Turner

15. Sid Harvey*

23. Aden Ekanayake*

25. Hayden Sargeant

87. Michael Icely

*denotes debutant

HSBC SVNS DUBAI - AUSTRALIA WOMEN FIXTURES

Pool A

Saturday, November 30

Australia 54 def China 0 (4:44pm AEDT)

Australia 42 def Fiji 7 (8:05pm AEDT)

Sunday, December 1

Australia 24 def Ireland 5 (12:35am AEDT)

Australia 39 def Canada 0 (4:42 pm AEDT) - CUP QUARTER FINAL

Australia 35 def Great Britain 7 (8:12 pm AEDT) - CUP SEMI FINAL

Monday, December 2

Australia v New Zealand (2:35 am AEDT) - CUP FINAL

HSBC SVNS DUBAI - AUSTRALIA MEN FIXTURES

Pool A

Saturday, November 30

Australia 0 def by South Africa 17 (5:50pm AEDT)

Australia 10 def by France 14 (10:20pm AEDT)

Sunday, December 1

Australia 31 def Kenya 14 (3:22am AEDT)

Australia 20 def by Argentina 22 (6:54 pm AEDT)

Australia 17 def Great Britain 12 (10:20 pm AEDT) - SEVENTH PLACE PLAYOFF

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