Hong Kong SVNS - Women, Day One
LIVE UPDATES: We bring you all the women's drama on Day One at Hong Kong, Round Six of the SVNS World Series.
There is sure to be drama and fireworks, with Australia and New Zealand locked in a thrilling battle for the women's title ahead of the last regular season round in Singapore next month.
Follow all the Day One action below!
Canada 24 - 5 Japan
The opening game of the tournament got off to a shaky back and forth for both sides as Japan looked to gain winning momentum against their Canadian counterparts. Both teams were awarded chances to attack with Charity Williams breaking the deadlock to open her team's account and officially get the Hong Kong SVNS underway. Canada ended the first half with a commanding two try lead before Japan could strike back to get their first points on the board. This would be it for Japan as the Canadians kept their foot of the gas to runaway with the game and get their campaign started with a convincing victory.
United States 24 - 5 Spain
Spain came into this game as the underdogs having not beaten their opposition in the past ten encounters dating back to 2019. The Eagles defense kept the Spanish attack pinned back in their own territory for most of the first half until Kristi Kurshe and Jazzy Gray both ran in tries for the USA to go into the second half with a comfortable lead. Spain would have no answer as the USA maintained their competitive edge, running in a couple more tries and extending their winning streak to eleven games against the Spanish. Spain would get the last say, finally getting their first try of the tournament in the last movement of the match.
South Africa 7 - 20 Ireland
There wasn't a lot to separate these two teams going into the second half of the match as Ireland led the game by two tries to one but by a margin of only three points. Ireland continued to show their skills on offense while South Africa stayed patient on defense for chances to counter-attack. The roles would be reversed as a handling error crept in for South Africa on attack which the Irish pounced on to runaway with the game and get their tournament underway with a win as South Africa's woes continue but definitely with a much improved performance against a prolific Irish team.
Australia 19 - 12 Fiji
It's a mouth-watering encounter in this opening round between two tournament favorites. Fiji would get off to a flying start having scored their first try of the tournament within the first minute of the match. Australia would keep the Faith as Nathan got the first points in her team's campaign before the half-time hooter sounded with the game still hanging in the balance. A red card early in the second half left the Aussies a mountain to climb as the scores remained all square. A yellow card shortly after that to the Fijians kept things interesting as the Australians showed their grit to keep their unbeaten streak over Fiji alive as well as get their campaign off to a winning start.
Canada 14 - 7 Spain
Spain got off to dream start having scored the first try in the first thirty seconds of the game. They would continue to keep the Canadians deep in their own half with a couple penalties just not going their way as Spain's defense continued to hold up until a 'chicken-wing' pass into space got Canada into the game with the scores being all square at half-time. It would be another moment of brilliance by Charity Williams to break the deadlock as Canada drew ahead for the first time in the match with two minutes left to play. The sirens sounds with Spain in possession to try and take the game in over-time but Canada do well to hold the ball up as they dodge a bullet against Spain.
United States 17 - 12 Japan
A great set-piece play gets the USA their first try in the game as the handling errors continued to hinder Japan's attack right up until the stroke of half time which finally saw them score in the corner for their second try of the tournament. A cut-out pass to the wing saw Jazzy Gray in for her second try of the tournament to regain the lead for the Eagles as the game began to run away from Japan who would let one more try slip through their ranks before scoring one last time to end the game with three tries to two.
South Africa 7 - 24 Fiji
It was a rampant display by the Fijians as they raced to a three try lead in the first half of the game. The South Africans just weren't able to keep possession and struggled on defense against a Fijian side that let the ball do the work with multiple off-loads in the tackle that ensured a comfortable lead at the break. South Africa would eventually get their first try of the game in the second half but it would not be enough to overcome this mighty Fijian performance who come away with their first win of the tournament well South Africa will have to go to the drawing board going into day two.
Australia 35 - 0 Ireland
It's another colossal encounter between two in-form teams who have both won silverware in this SVNS series already. The ever-present Maddison Levi got her team on the scoreboard first to calm the nerves as Ireland looked to give a strong response. This would not be the case as Maddison's sister, Teagan would be the next on the scoresheet as Australia raced away to a three try lead going into the second half. The Australian onslaught continued as they ran the Irish ragged having scored five unanswered tries to finish the day unbeaten while Ireland will want to regroup and see how they can come back on day two to keep their campaign hopes alive.
France 28 - 17 Brazil
This game started as a tightly-contested battle as both teams looked to enforce their will on the game. It was the Brazilians who were first to score in their Stalwart player, Bianca Silva. Their lead would be short-lived as the French stepped it up a gear to score two tries towards the end of the first half and put themselves firmly in the driver's seat of this match. The lead would briefly return to the Brazilians in the second half through a try by Thalia Costa but the French proved to be too strong on attack to score four team tries and secure a comfortable victory in a pulsating first game for both teams.
New Zealand 24 - 5 Great Britain
It did not take long for the Black Ferns to open their account in this tournament through Michaela Blyde who raced away to the try-line within the first minute of the match. New Zealand would continue to hold Great Britain in their own half as well as capitalize on a late penalty that saw Portia Woodman-Wickliffe running down the wing to score the second try for her team going into the second half. It would take a lineout error by New Zealand to concede their first try of the tournament as Lisa Thompson is the first to react to get Great Britain on the scoreboard. The game would be done from there as New Zealand were already well ahead in the game as they get their campaign off to a strong start.
France 34 - 7 Great Britain
France got off to a clinical start to their second game of the tournament scoring the first try of the match and subsequently scoring a second with an additional player on the field after Great Britain were handed a yellow card early on. The momentum continued to sway in their favour as they closed out the half with three unanswered tries giving Great Britain a near impossible mission of getting back into the game. Great Britain would score first in the second half in Ellie Boatman to give the Brits something to play for but with time not on their side and the French not letting up on their attacking prowess, Great Britain would succumb to a convincing defeat against some tough opposition on day one of the tournament.
New Zealand 33 - 7 Brazil
Brazil have been a much improved outfit since the start of the series as they managed to keep the scores level for most of the first half. The Black Ferns finally hit their stride with two well-worked tries on the wing where the dam wall had to break for the Brazilians going into the second half. New Zealand never looked in doubt of losing this match with a three try lead and a determined defense that chased down any and all line-breaks made by Brazil. A never say die attitude would award a try to Brazil late in the game but it's New Zealand who end the game with the win and a dazzling performance to bag themselves nine tries on the first day of the tournament.