Madrid SVNS, Day Two - women
LIVE UPDATES: Join us as we bring you LIVE updates on Day Two of the HSBC SVNS winner-takes-all Grand Final – involving the top eight placed women’s teams after the regular season.
League Winners New Zealand kicked off their Grand Final campaign in emphatic style with a 49-14 defeat over Great Britain, while China were the stars of the HSBC SVNS play-offs with wins over Spain and Japan.
China, who finished first in the HSBC Challenger series, beat Spain, the 12th seeds, 12-7, before seeing off Japan by 17-14 to strengthen their chances of securing a spot in the series next season.
Elsewhere, France took top spot in Pool B of the Championship after victory over Fiji, while South Africa and Brazil set up a decider for Pool B in the play-off competition as they both went two from two on Day One.
All the LIVE updates of Day Two follow below …
Championship Pool A
United States 10 – 12 Great Britain
A slow start for both sides in this fixture, struggling to find their stride as they poked and prodded at one another with little success. Great Britain were the first to make headway with a Jasmine Joyce try, showing what they can do when the passes stick. USA were sure to get some points themselves before heading into the break, but missed the conversion, leaving them trailing after seven minutes. Joyce opened the second half for Great Britain with another try, her team working together well to see her over the line. They held USA back but cracked just before the hooter, allowing them over for an equalizing score. The conversion was missed, unfortunately, costing America the win by 2 points.
New Zealand 17 – 26 Canada
A game that went as well as it could’ve for Canada, starting off with a try in the opening seconds via the hands of Williams. They were heavily contested but held their own against the NZ side, going over twice more before the whistle and building confidently. NZ shot themselves in the foot with a yellow card as the first half ended. Canada stretched their lead with another try at the start of the second seven, but New Zealand made their intentions known as they pushed past the Canadian defence once, then opened the flood gates for more tries. Unfortunately it was not enough, and the early lead the North Americans garnered were enough to see them through.
Canada 21 – 17 Great Britain
Canada got off to a solid start as their defensive effort paid off early and saw KEYARA WARDLEY score the opening try. They managed to score another try despite being one player less as CHARITY WILLIAMS got sin binned when she failed to take an intercept cleanly. Great Britain responded with a breakaway try by JASMINE JOYCE. It was game on in the 2nd half as Great Britain levelled things up after the break. The game went down to the wire as they played for Golden Points. Canada dominated the extra time and secured the win.
New Zealand 38 – 12 United States
Another tight contested affair between these Nations in the opening minutes of the match before New Zealand pulled away with it on the scoreboard. JORJA MILLER lead the charges with a brace as New Zealand secured their place in the championship semifinal.
Championship Pool B
France 31 – 5 Ireland
France kicked off Day Two’s games with a fiery start, going over in the first few minutes but losing out on a player after their fervour got them a yellow card. Ireland took advantage of the extra player and made it over the try line with Amy Leigh, but that was all they managed. The second half was much less of a contest, as the French ran away with it, literally, piercing the Irish defence numerous times thanks to Yengo and Okemba. After the final whistle France came out ahead with more than 30 points.
Australia 31 – 12 Fiji
Fiji got the start they wanted with some fine play, weaving passed the Australian defence and tossing neat ball through for Cavuru to open the scoring, but Australia lashed back with a flurry of tries shadowing the good start from the Fijians. Maddison Levi had another day of brilliance, putting it down three times for a hatrick. The Fijians were not completely toothless, striking out in the second half but not nearly as successful with their attacks. They managed a dying effort to get it down, but it did little for the final result.
Fiji 19 – 26 Ireland
Both teams brought their A-game to this fixture, employing every attacking tactic they could to get the win. Fiji got the ball rolling with a quick one-two, bagging themselves 12 points with two tries, one converted. Ireland recovered nicely, assuming control of the driver’s seat for the remainder of the first half. They pulled ahead by stretching the Fijian defence to breaking point and securing three tries, missing only one conversion kick. Fiji came out swinging in the second half but Ireland were prepared this time around, conceding on one try before firing back with a try of their own, giving Murphy Crowe a hatrick.
Australia 28 – 14 France
Crowd favourite, Maddison Levi, got this one off to an exciting start by running the French defence ragged and coming in wide to put it down for the first try. Ciofani didn’t let it go unanswered, getting France back on level ground only for Levi to punch back with an immediate second and third, securing yet another hatrick. Truly a wonderful performance by the Australian. The second seven was a bit more sedate, with only the one try by Australian showstopper, Levi. They saw out the game and ensured France were unable to cross the line for any potential comebacks, despite a fierce effort by the French ladies.
Qualifier Pool A
China 40 – 0 Poland
China got the game off to a solid start and YAN MEILING managed to score a brace in the first half as they looked to remain unbeaten this weekend.CHEN KEYI scored on the cusp of half time to stretch their lead and they seemed to look even more comfortable in the 2nd half.The Polish failed to get on the scoreboard in a match dominated by China as they go through undefeated in the group stages.
Japan 26 – 14 Spain
It was an evenly contested affair as early on with Japan opening the scoring through MEI OHTANI but Spain responded in quick succession as their young playmaker JUANA STELLA found a gap and ran straight through. The Spanish started to dominate the contact situation in the closing minutes of the 1st half and they went 7 points up into the breaks with a try by PAULA REQUENA. The hosts went behind by three tries as Japan secured the 2nd place in this pool.
Qualifier Pool B
Argentina 19 – 14 Belgium
The Argentine ladies got this fixture off to a cracking start when they bypassed the Belgium defence in the opening seconds of the game. They went on to show clear domination, controlling the ball and not allowing Belgium much opportunity to dig themselves out of the pit they were in. The Belgians got a second breath after the first half hooter when Taladrid received a yellow card. The Europeans made good of the advantage and score twice, turning it into a contest. Argentina got another yellow card in the second half. Belgium were not able to do good with the momentum swing despite all their effots.
Brazil 24 – 0 South Africa
A haphazard start for South Africa, as they fumbled their defence and let Silva through who happily obliged the lapse. Brazil ran with the early advantage, counting up the points and showing South Africa little of the ball. South Africa’s woes grew with a late yellow card to end the first half, which left them with a mountain to climb in the second. Things went from bad to worse for South Africa when they got another yellow card. Brazil continued to skip all the way to the try line, sealing off the game comfortably in the end.
