RUGBY: The Qantas Australian Women's Sevens team has fallen agonisingly short of the Dubai Sevens title after New Zealand won the Cup Final at The 7evens Stadium with the last play of the game.
Two tries from Emma Tonegato - the second a sensational move that involved virtually every Australian player on the pitch - and one from Amy Turner had given the Women in gold a 17 point half-time lead.
New Zealand captain Sarah Goss narrowed the advantage right at the start of the second half before Tyler Nathan-Wong put last year's World Series winners within three points.
Skipper Goss crossed over after the siren to claim the unlikeliest of wins.
Women's Sevens Head Coach Tim Walsh was delighted with his side's endeavours: "I am incredibly proud of the efforts the players have put in - not only over this past two days - but over the pre-season with their hard work and tenacity.
"There is nothing between us and New Zealand at the moment... though personally, I thought we were the best team in Dubai. However, you can never, ever write New Zealand off no matter what level of Rugby it is and the Cup Final was a fantastic game - an incredible advert for Women's Rugby."
After the Cup Final, Australia's Alicia Quirk was announced as the Dubai Sevens Player of the Tournament for a series of outstanding displays over the two days of competition.
Of the 22-year-old from Wagga Wagga, Walsh added: "Alicia is the heart and soul of this team - she is all about the team and not the individual.
"She has an incredible work ethic who is always looking to improve her game and is one of the leaders of the team now - very opinionated and a very intelligent player. For me she was the deserved recipient of this award."
Australia secured its spot in the Cup Final after two scintillating performances in their Cup Quarter-Final against Fiji (47-0) and Canada (29-7). Against Canada in the Semi's, an Alicia Quirk try in the opening minute set the tone for a flawless first half, with Emma Tonegato and Emilee Cherry also crossing over to give the Aussies a 17-point advantage at the break. As expected, Canada started the second half quickly and despite cutting the margain, Tonegato again and then Turner put the tie beyond doubt.
Earlier, a brace of tries from Charlotte Caslick and Emilee Cherry helped Australia on their way to a thumping victory over a stunned Fiji side. Tiana Penitani, Alicia Quirk and Amy Turner scored the other five-pointers in the seven-try romp.
Elsewhere, Canada finished third after beating France in golden point extra-time while England saw off the challenge of Fiji - once again in golden point - to pick up the Plate trophy and finish fifth.
The second round of the 2014/15 World Rugby Women's Sevens World Series heads to Sao Paulo on weekend 7/8 February where the Aussies will be looking to defend their title.
Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens results in Dubai, UAE, 4-6 December:
Australia 36-0 South Africa, Pool B
Australia 24-10 France, Pool B
Australia 39-0 Spain, Pool B
Australia 47-0 Fiji, Cup Quarter-Final
Australia 29-7 Canada, Cup Semi-Final
Australia 17-19 New Zealand, Cup Final
Final placings for the Dubai Sevens and current World Rugby Women's Sevens World Series standings (top 6): 1. New Zealand (20 World Series points), 2. Australia (18 points), 3. Canada (16 points), 4. France (14 points), 5. England (12 points), 6. Fiji (10 points)
Australian Rugby Union
Australia in form ahead of Fiji quarter-final clash
RUGBY: The Qantas Australian Women's Sevens team has breezed through the pool stage in Dubai to line up a Cup Quarter-Final showdown with Fiji on Friday afternoon (AEDT).
After finishing as top seeds following Day One, Head Coach Tim Walsh said: "I thought we played some great footy for two of the three games. I have a really strong squad of 12 to choose from now and it was pleasing to see Vani Pelite play so well. In my opinion, Emma Tonegato and Alicia Quirk were the best out there for us today - they were outstanding.
"Fiji will be a test, that's for sure. When they're on, they're on. And we'll be planning as if they are on so we will go away, recover, and prepare properly for this game. The standard of this tournament has gone up so much that we won't be taking anything for granted at all."
The season-opener saw the Women's Sevens side take on a South Africa side looking to impress on their return to the World Rugby Sevens World Series.
However, they were outplayed and overpowered throughout as Australia eased to the win (36-0). Alicia Quirk scored the first of six Aussie tries when she crossed over following a beautiful pass from Charlotte Caslick. Caslick herself scored the second, before debutant Chloe Dalton crossed over for her first Sevens World Series try. With her first touch after coming on as a replacement, Ellia Green burned the South African defence early in the second period to increase her side's advantage. Amy Turner and Tiana Penitani both scored late tries to seal a solid victory.
Despite a fast start, an impressive French side were unable to keep pace with Australia come full-time. Despite going behind early on, some tough work from Shannon Parry set Emma Tonegato away before Caslick put daylight between her side and Les Bleus. Alicia Quirk and Ellia Green then both showcased their pace on the left wing to ultimately seal the win (24-10).
The Aussies saved their best performance until last, mixing brutal defence with clinical attack to see off the challenge of a beleaguered Spanish side (39-0). Shannon Parry opened the scoring within two minutes and Ellia Green added a second. Evania Pelite then waltzed through the European defence to open her account for the new season. Two more tries from the deadly Ellia Green sealed her hat-trick before Emma Tonegato finished the scoring, rounding her beaten opponent on the right wing to touch down.
Walsh later confirmed that Chloe Dalton will miss the remainder of the tournament with a fractured arm, but is confident the basketball-convert will be available for selection come the Sao Paulo leg of the Sevens World Series in February.
Elsewhere in the Cup Quarter-Finals, New Zealand will play Russia, England go up against France while the USA take on North American rivals Canada in the glamour tie of the round.
All of Day Two of the Women's Sevens in Dubai will be streamed via www.worldrugby.org. Australia v Fiji, Cup Quarter-Final, (5.00pm AEDT) on 5 December.
FOX SPORTS 2 will broadcast the tournament from the Cup Semi-Final stage.
Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens results in Dubai, UAE, 4-5 December: Australia 36-0 South Africa, Australia 24-10 France, Australia 39-0 Spain,
Australian Rugby Union
