AUSTRALIA BRUSH AWAY ENGLAND BEFORE FRANCE STOP THEIR RUN IN HONG KONG

Apr 8 • General News, Sevens Rugby • 1192 Views • Comments Off on AUSTRALIA BRUSH AWAY ENGLAND BEFORE FRANCE STOP THEIR RUN IN HONG KONG

The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens side’s campaign has come to an end at the HSBC Hong Kong Sevens after falling short to France in the Challenge Trophy semi-final.

The Aussies got showed a lot of fight in their Challenge Trophy quarter-final against England, coming from behind twice to score the match winner well after the 14-minute mark to progress to the semi-finals.

The semi-final though proved one step too far for the side which fielded eight debutants in the three-day tournament. The Australians got out to a seven-point lead at one stage but the French came back stronger in the second half to take the win 24-12.

Acting Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens captain, Con Foley said: “It was a really disappointing way to end the campaign, we definitely came in with very high hopes to do well and we backed ourselves to do so.”

“For a really inexperienced side, we had eight debutants, although we’re very disappointed we showed a lot of heart throughout the weekend, a lot of passion and a lot of effort and for that I’m really proud of the team.

“On a personal note, to don the gold jersey again was a very happy moment for me, I’m disappointed the way we finished but very happy to be back in the fold”, Foley said.

Australia 17 defeated England 14
The Australian side had a tough task first up against England in the Challenge Trophy quarter-final on day three and it was the English flyer Ryan Olowofela who got the scoring started in the third minute. Australia hit back almost immediately through birthday boy Jeral Skelton who brushed off a number of English defenders to pick up another try for the tournament. The Australians then hit the lead two minutes later after Sam Figg produced a textbook turnover to allow another birthday boy, Harrison Goddard to show some serious flare with a chip and chase to score a five-pointer in his debut tournament. The English weren’t about to roll over though and their skipper Will Edwards scored after the half-time siren to send his side ahead 14-12 at the break.

The second half was a tense affair with neither side giving an inch and as the clock ticked over the 14-minute mark, Australia were in possession 100-metres from the England try-line and still trailing by two. The side showing sensational patience and continuity to move the ball up field with Henry Clunies-Ross eventually getting on the outside of his opposite number to give Figg a clear run to the line and ultimately win the match.

Australia 12 defeated by France 24
It was always going to be a tough ask against a full-strength French outfit but the young Aussies came out firing in the Challenge Trophy semi-final. Debutant James Armstrong showed he has plenty of talent and speed to burn, when he brushed through the French defence before sprinting 70-metres to cross for the opener in what was his first ever World Series try. However, France hit back almost immediately off the restart to level the scores before Dylan Pietsch again showed his skill on the big stage, powerfully pushing away from his opposite number to cross under the black dot and restore the advantage. But it was deja vu off the kick-off with France grabbing possession and their second try to have the score 12-all at the break.

Both sides came out tight in the second half as they looked to break open the stalemate. The French side though had the majority of the possession and territory and it eventually paid off when they nabbed their third in the corner. Australia pushed hard in the remaining two minutes as they searched for a way back into the game but the French ultimately proved too strong and got their fourth try with one minute left on the clock to end Australia’s Hong Kong Sevens campaign.

Hong Kong Sevens Day Three results
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens
Challenge Trophy quarter-final: Australia 17-14 England
Challenge Trophy semi-final: Australia 12-24 France