New Zealand complete double success at Dubai Rugby Sevens as men's team down USA

Sport360 staff 00:38 02/12/2018
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  • New Zealand’s dominance of the 2018 Dubai Rugby Sevens was completed on Saturday night when their depleted men’s side defeated first-time finalists the United States 21-5, a day after their female counterparts had downed another North American opponent in Canada.

    Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Akuila Rokolisoa and Regan Ware were among those unavailable for the All Blacks Sevens on Saturday, meaning they had just nine players for the showpiece in front of a packed crowd at The Sevens.

    But this didn’t stop Clark Laidlaw’s side from ending a dominant 2018 – they had previously claimed the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco – in fitting fashion

    “We missed a few soldiers,” said Andrew Knewstubb, who was named player of the final.

    A 7-0 half-time lead was earned for New Zealand by Tone Ng Shiu’s score. Luke Masirewa’s early sin binning after the break for a high tackle was soon punished by Stephen Tomasin’s darting run from the left for the USA.

    This score to make it 7-5 came with only four minutes left. But this was as close as the States would get.

    Dylan Collier, just about, evaded the rapid Carlin Isles to run in and Ngarohi McGarvey crossed at the death to crown the win for New Zealand.

    This was New Zealand’s record-breaking seventh Dubai win and first since 2009.

    England earlier took bronze by edging Australia 15-14 in a thriller. Fiji won the fifth-place final, beating reigning Dubai champions South Africa 24-19 in an extra-time clash with two tries from debutant Aminiasi Tuimaba.

    Samoa claimed the first silverware of the 2018/19 World Rugby Sevens Series by beating beat France 33-24 in the Challenge Trophy final.

    Meanwhile, the Black Ferns continued their perfect start to the campaign with a 26-14 victory against Canada in the Dubai Rugby Sevens final.

    The 2017/18 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series runners-up saw playmaker Tyla Nathan-Wong play the starring role on Friday night, scoring a brace of tries and notching three conversions against opposition who were also undefeated at The Sevens Stadium coming into the decider. This triumph followed on from last month’s opening success at Glendale, United States.

    “Dubai is one of my favourite places to play,” captain and Player of the Tournament Sarah Goss told Newshub.co.nz.

    “It’s been an amazing couple of days.”

    Theresa Fitzpatrick began the scoring in the third minute, but Canada hit back immediately through Ghislaine Landry’s converted try that put the North Americans into the lead.

    The stage was then set for Nathan-Wong, who split the defence right on half-time to earn her side a 12-7 lead at the break.

    Gayle Broughton increased that advantage for the Black Ferns, only for Canada to respond through

    Julia Greenshields’ sprint home from distance. This closed the gap to five points.

    A high tackle from Canada’s

    Bianca Farella saw her, critically, sent to the sin-bin. In her absence, Fitzpatrick sold a superb dummy before releasing Nathan-Wong to cross over unimpeded for her second try.

    Sydney is the next stop on the women’s tour, in February.

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