AUSTRALIA FALL TO IRELAND IN CHALLENGE TROPHY FINAL AT AT&T PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO

Jul 23 • General News, Sevens Rugby • 1643 Views • Comments Off on AUSTRALIA FALL TO IRELAND IN CHALLENGE TROPHY FINAL AT AT&T PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO

The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens side have been pipped by Ireland on day three to finish runners-up in the Challenge Trophy at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.

The side won two and lost two over three days at AT&T Park to finish in 10th place at the quadrennial event.

Their first assignment on day one was to take down Canada in the Challenge Trophy semi-final. A double to John Porch along with a Ben O’Donnell five-pointer, was enough for a comfortable 12-point win and a berth in the decider.

They then came up against an Irish side who have been the big improvers in the final legs of the season. Ireland with the faster start and despite the Aussies fighting back, they were never able to fully grasp momentum and eventually fell 24-14 in a disappointing end to their tournament.

Qantas Australian Men’s captain, Lewis Holland said: “It wasn’t at all the way we wanted to finish this tournament. The first game of the tournament was a bit shaky and we kind of built really well in the last two games but they aren’t the games we want to be in.

“To die in that last game against Ireland, they’re a good side, but we went away from things we’ve spoke about and it’s disappointing. We didn’t get what we came over for, really.

“It’s in us (to win these tournaments) there’s no doubt about that, we just need to revisit (past wins) and produce that,” Holland said.

Australia 19 defeated Canada 7

The Australian’s first game on the final day of competition was against Canada and it was the men in red who put the foot down early, as they maintained possession and territory with Lucas Hammon eventually dotting down for first points. The Aussies showed plenty of composure from the restart before John Porch and Ben O’Donnell combined for one of the tries of the tournament. The two passed between themselves a number of times with Porch eventually the one to cross the stripe. The scores level at 7-a-piece at half-time.

The Australians were the quicker out of the blocks in the second half with Porch and O’Donnell again combining as the latter was the one to score this time. Two minutes later Porch had his brace, after Henry Hutchison made a break down the sideline only to be brought down five metres short. Porch picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and skipped down the blindside to extend the lead to 12. The Aussies held onto possession in the final stages of the match as the score finished 19-7, putting them through to the Challenge Trophy final.

Australia 14 defeated by Ireland 24

Their final opponent for the Rugby World Cup Sevens would be the ever-improving Irish side, who the Aussies were pooled with in the final two legs of the 2017/18 World Series. Ireland got off to a fast start with their speedster Jordan Conroy flying down the sideline off the kick off. They eventually opened the scoring too when their skipper Billy Dardis crossed the line on the opposite side of the field. The Australians hit back through John Porch, who continued his stellar form in the tournament. Porch profited from a super run up the middle from Sam Myers. The Irish returned serve almost immediately when Jimmy O’Brien found himself on the outside of Lewis Holland, five metres from the line. Ireland then able to add even more pain as the half-time hooter sounded, when Terry Kennedy got their third to send them to the break 10 points in front.

The second term didn’t start much better for the men in gold as Ireland got across the line for their fourth. Maurice Longbottom then produced a trademark run to give the Aussies a sniff, down by just 10 with two minutes to play. Boyd Killingworth earned a turnover and put a kick in behind the Irish line but the defence managed to beat him to the ball to force a 22-metre restart. The clock eventually wound down with Ireland claiming the win and the Challenge Trophy.

Rugby World Cup Sevens day three results
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens day three results
Challenge trophy semi final: Australia 19-7 Canada
Challenge trophy final: Australia 14-24 Ireland