ROWING: Australia’s lightweight women’s double sculls crew found it very tough all the way in the final on Day 8 of rowing at Eton Dorney.

Bronwen Watson and Hannah Every-Hall tried hard, but couldn’t go with the pace of the leaders early, and at the 500m mark they were in sixth place – 2.02 seconds behind then leaders Greece.

They were still sixth at the 1000m mark, but kept plugging away and got some reward for their effort when they surged past Germany in the second half of the race to finish fifth.

Great Britain pair Katherine Copeland and Sophie Hosking won the gold medal in 7min 09.30sec, with China taking the silver and Greece the bronze.

The Aussie pair clocked 7:20.68, which left them more than eight seconds outside of bronze.

Watson, 35, and Every-Hall, 34, were each competing at their first Olympics. Watson had twice previously retired from the sport, in 2003 and again in 2009, but came back a second time to finally get a shot at the Olympics.

Every-Hall is a mother-of-two, who, after the birth of her second child, came back to international rowing in 2010 before also winning a place at the Olympics. 

Greg Prichard in London

Olympics.com.au