Singapore SVNS, women - Day Three
WRAP: A thrilling final day awaits fans at the Singapore National Stadium, as the women’s HSBC SVNS league title races go to the wire.
Great Britain secured the final spot in the women’s Grand Final in Madrid but could not advance to the semifinals as their Singapore cup run was ended by New Zealand, who play Fiji in the semifinal.
Australia and France will face each other in the second women’s semi-final after winning their respective quarter-finals against Ireland and Canada.
All the Day Three drama follow below …
Final
New Zealand 31 – 21 Australia
What a final this match proved to be with both teams going into the game with an equal amount of log points and all to play for to take the title as league winners. The first half ended neck and neck with both sides scoring two tries each as number one and number two in the series continued to trade blows. Australia led at the halftime by two points with everything still to play for. The ever present, Michaela Blyde would be the difference in the game scoring another hat-trick in the competition. The Australians would lose their captain to injury during play as New Zealand soldiered on to run in three more tries in the second half to close out this game as Singapore champions and league winners of the series.
Third-place play-off
Fiji 7 – 29 France
This third place play-off game belonged to the French who put on a dominant display to claim bronze. France were able to score in the first minute of the game before the Fijians could respond with a try of their own. From there, France would take over proceedings running in three more tries in the second half courtesy of Neissen, Noel and Okempa who bagged her brace in the game. This French team has really shown why they have become a force to be reckoned with in the SVNS format, capping off a good performance overall in this series so far.
Semifinals
Fiji 22 – 33 New Zealand
The Black Ferns got off to a scintillating start in this game with scores coming in the first half courtesy of Waaka, Miller, Blyde and Daveua. Fiji would finally get on the scoreboard with a try of their own but gave themselves a Kiwi mountain to climb going into the second half. Fiji would put on a brave fightback to run in a couple more tries but it would not be enough to get home as New Zealand stayed clinical on attack to book themselves a spot in the final showdown.
Australia 19 – 12 France
It’s all to play for with much at stake as the second seeded team took on the third seed with Australia needing a victory to keep themselves in the race for the series title. The scores remained all square gong into the second half as both teams continued to fire shots to impose their will on the match. Australia would just about keep their hopes alive as they edged the French by three tries to two with Faith Nathan scoring in the dying moments to setup a mouth-watering encounter against the Black Ferns.
Fifth-place play-off
Japan 17 – 19 Ireland
Aimee Leigh Murphy Crowe took matters into her own hands scoring two tries in the first half as Ireland led Japan by two tries to one going into the second half. Murphy Crowe would get her hat-trick shortly as play resumed with Japan needing to get some momentum on from scoring the first points of the match. The momentum would eventually come in the last movement of the game but failing to convert the try handed Ireland the win and the fifth place finish in the tournament.
Seventh-place play-off
Canada 17 – 5 Great Britain
The Canadians were able to get ahead early on in the game with Charity Williams running in a brace of tries for her team. Great Britain pulled a try back in the second half but lacked the urgency to put Canada under pressure in the game who never looked in doubt from letting the match slip away from them. Canada win the contest by three tries to one and will take the 7th place position stunning Great Britain to top off a good performance in this tournament.
Ninth-place play-off
United States 0 – 5 South Africa
South Africa continued on their much-improved performance in this tournament going into the second half with the lead after being made to work hard for points in the game against the Eagles. Tshirembe opened up South Africa’s account, persevering off the kick chase to score in the corner. That would be the deciding moment of the game with neither team being able to cross the line in the second half as the South Africans topple the fourth seeded team in the tournament to grab the 9th place position.
Eleventh-place play-off
Brazil 19 – 24 Spain
This match started off as a tightly contested affair with both teams playing for survival in the series. A large chunk of the first half was played deep in Spain’s territory as Brazil kept knocking on the door until the first try of the game came within two minutes left of the first half. The Spanish would not take this lightly as they responded swiftly through a couple tries of their own before halftime with the game still hanging in the balance. Brazil would get off to a strong restart before a great set-move try could keep the Spanish noses out in front. The match ends in Spain clinching their first win of the tournament along with the 11th place finish.
