Canada Dominate Day One in Kitakyushu

Americas teams found success on Day One but it was Canada who were in top form in Kitakyushu, Japan, on Friday. They swept aside England, Spain, and the USA in order to move into the Quarter Finals as early favorites at the HSBC Women’s Sevens Series event.

Two tries from Britt Benn led the way past a resilient but outmatched England side, while a Bianca Farella double closed out the blowout victory against Spain. The USA meanwhile had a slow but successful win over Spain in their first match with nine points from captain Alev Kelter the difference, but it was Naya Tapper who was to the fore with a hat-trick in the outstanding team performance against England.

The two North American sides faced off in their final pool match and at the break the result was still in the balance. Kelter struck first for the Women’s Eagles but her Canadian counterpart Ghislaine Landry drew the scores level almost immediately. Landry’s conversion of a Farella try was enough to give the Canadians a two-point lead at the half with Kristen Thomas clawing a score back for the USA.

There was no such parity in the second half, as Canada turned up the heat and left the USA trailing in their wake. Landry scored soon after the break and Julia Greenshields wasn’t far behind. A fifth try went to Charity Williams to put the Canadians in pole position heading into Day Two.

Brazil endured difficult matches against Australia and Fiji to start their day, with the latter perhaps the surprise pack on Day One as they nearly toppled the Olympic champions in their final pool match, losing by only one score. Brazil managed a try by Raquel Kochhann against the Fijians, and then got much more as they found their form to win 27-10 over Ireland. Kochann was one of five try-scorers along with Beatriz Mulhbauer, Edna Sanini, Isadora Cerullo, and Bianca Silva.

The Cup Quarter Finals see the USA given a tricky test against Fiji, while Canada face the unpredictable Russia, whose only loss came against New Zealand after two strong wins over France and Japan. Brazil will rematch Ireland in the Trophy Semi Final.

Broadcasting the event live in the USA is The Rugby Channel, will in Canada it is streamed by TSN GO. Matches are also available on the official World Rugby site.

 

DAY ONE RESULTS

POOL A
Russia 26 – 5 France
New Zealand 31 – 0 Japan
Russia 29 – 5 Japan
New Zealand 19 – 14 France
France 33 – 5 Japan
New Zealand 22 – 7 Russia

POOL B
Fiji 45 – 0 Ireland
Australia 38 – 0 Brazil
Fiji 34 – 7 Brazil
Australia 36 – 0 Ireland
Ireland 10 – 27 Brazil
Australia 17 – 12 Fiji

POOL C
USA 19 – 10 Spain
Canada 29 – 12 England
USA 27 – 5 England
Canada 43 – 5 Spain
Spain 0 – 21 England
Canada 29 – 12 USA

DAY TWO FIXTURES

Sat, Apr 24 – 21:30 ET – CUP QF – Australia vs France
Sat, Apr 24 – 21:52 ET – CUP QF – Canada vs Russia
Sat, Apr 24 – 22:14 ET – CUP QF – Fiji vs USA
Sat, Apr 24 – 22:36 ET – CUP QF – New Zealand vs England

Sat, Apr 24 – 22:58 ET – TROPHY SF – Brazil vs Ireland
Sat, Apr 24 – 23:20 ET – TROPHY SF – Spain vs Japan