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Canada earned Bronze in Clermont-Ferrand but it was New Zealand who stole the show, defeating Australia in the Cup Final and clinching their fourth overall HSBC Women’s Sevens Series title. After a scare against the USA on Day One the black jerseys turned up the heat on Day Two and stretched away from the opposition by a comfortable margin.
It was a bittersweet ending to the season for Canada, who had already clinched a Top 3 finish on the season and emerged from Day One in top form. After thrashing England by 45-0 and defeating the ever-dangerous Russians they then coasted past Ireland in the Quarter Finals to set up a Semi Final match against Australia with the winner earning both a spot in the final and second place overall on the HSBC table.
First half tries from Julia Greenshields and Britt Benn had Canada up by one score at the break, but the outstanding Chloe Dalton struck twice in the second half to spoil the party and hold Canada to their third overall finish, equaling their 2015-16 season standing. The North Americans took out their frustrations on France in the Bronze Final with a tremendous four-try performance from Charity Williams leading away past the gracious hosts.
The USA also finished as they would on the overall table in 6th spot. A promising Day One that saw them run the eventual champions close at 19-14 was muted when they were overwhelmed by Australia in the Quarter Finals. A win over Ireland put them into the 5th place Final but Fiji proved too much, in doing so pushing the Pacific nation into a draw with Russia on points but ahead on differential to claim their best ever season finish in 4th overall.
Brazil showed great heart on Day One and even claimed an impressive 12-7 win over Russia before falling to England by 31-24. A close loss to Spain knocked them out of Trophy contention but they ended their season on a high with a redeeming 27-17 win over England. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to save them from relegation as their 11th overall finish sees them miss out on Core Status for 2017-18, with their spot instead going to Japan.
For the Americas it was Canada once again who continue to lead the way on the women’s circuit and while the USA has shown signs of improvement they could not better their 6th place finish of 2015-16. New Zealand have again proven the best of the lot and by a wide margin this season, finishing with an astonishing record of 35 wins from 36 games and winning five of six Cup Finals to smash their way to yet another title.
DAY ONE RESULTS
POOL A
USA 12 – 7 Ireland
New Zealand 21 – 10 Japan
USA 33 – 5 Japan
New Zealand 26 – 5 Ireland
Ireland 26 – 5 Japan
New Zealand 19 – 14 USA
POOL B
Russia 27 – 0 England
Canada 29 – 0 Brazil
Russia 7 – 12 Brazil
Canada 45 – 0 England
England 31 – 24 Brazil
Canada 24 – 14 Russia
POOL C
Australia 41 – 0 Spain
France 31 – 14 Fiji
Australia 35 – 5 Fiji
France 12 – 7 Spain
Fiji 45 – 7 Spain
Australia 20 – 17 France
DAY TWO RESULTS
CUP QUARTER FINALS
Canada 31 – 0 Ireland
Australia 31 – 14 USA
Russia 7 – 10 France
New Zealand 31 – 7 Fiji
TROPHY SEMI FINALS
Brazil 5 – 12 Spain
England 7 – 25 Japan
5th PLACE SEMI FINALS
Ireland 14 – 31 USA
Russia 7 – 24 Fiji
CUP SEMI FINALS
Canada 14 – 19 Australia
France 7 – 21 New Zealand
11th PLACE FINAL
Brazil 27 – 17 England
TROPHY FINAL
Spain 15 – 14 Japan
7th PLACE FINAL
Ireland 14 – 19 Russia
5th PLACE FINAL
USA 19 – 24 Fiji
BRONZE FINAL
Canada 36 – 7 France
CUP FINAL
Australia 7 – 22 New Zealand
