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Australia are the inaugural Gold Medal winners at the Olympic 7s. The HSBC Sevens Series champions made it a double as they closed out a 24-17 win over New Zealand in the final on Monday evening. It brings to a close the wildly successful women’s bracket of the Rugby Sevens competition in Rio, with the men set to kick off on Tuesday.
New Zealand got off the blocks fastest with a try through Kayla McAlister, but Australia weren’t long to reply with Emma Tonegato flying over in the corner. Neither score was converted, but Portia Woodman’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on tipped the scales in favor of Australia. Evania Pelite was the recipient with the overlap and the try left the score 10-5 with 10 minutes played.
Ellia Green came on in the second half and made an immediate impact, winning a turnover at the breakdown and then crossing for Australia’s third score. Chloe Dalton made good on the kick, and then added another two points after Charlotte Caslick ripped through the New Zealand defense for the match-winning try. McAlister added a second but it was too late for New Zealand, and Woodman’s touchdown on full time was no consolation.
Earlier results saw Spain defeat Fiji 21-0 to finish in 7th place, the USA taking 5th place with a 19-5 result over France, and Canada winning the Bronze Medal with a 33-10 performance over Great Britain.
AUSTRALIA
Nicole Beck, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Chloe Dalton, Gemma Etheridge, Ellia Green, Shannon Parry (co-capt.), Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner, Sharni Williams (co-capt.)
NEW ZEALAND
Shakira Baker, Kelly Brazier (capt.), Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Goss, Huriana Manuel, Kayla McAlister, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Niall Williams, Portia Woodman
