Bond University has claimed their inaugural Aon University Sevens Series’ win on home soil after defeating Griffith 29-7 in the Gold Medal Final.
The home side had a troubled run during day one of the national final’s series. However, found form on day two, defeating Sydney University, UTS and Griffith University to claim both the home series win and the national crown.
Sisters Maddi and Tegan Levi were stars for the home side on day two, being selected in the overall competition dream team. Selected by the Australian coaching staff, the team also included the University of Queensland’s, Sidney Taylor, Piper Duck and Bridget Clarke of Sydney University.
While Tiarne Cavanagh of UTS and Jesse Southwell of the University of Newcastle rounded out the 2021 Aon Dream Team, in further accolades for Bond, Tegan Levi was named player of the series.
The competition came down to the wire with the new format, seeing match points determine that the University of Technology, Sydney finishing in second position while Sydney University finished third in the national standings. Griffith University came in fourth, while the University of Queensland came fifth, and the University of Newcastle finished in sixth position.
While the University of Canberra, University of Adelaide and University of Melbourne partook in the regional opening rounds in Sydney and Brisbane, they failed to qualify for the national final’s series.
Australian Women’s Sevens Coach John Manenti said: “This weekend’s matches closed out what has been a fantastic few months of quality Rugby. “There were some incredibly close games this year, and that speaks volumes to the level of talent which this competition both host’s and helps us uncover.
“We were also fortunate that earlier in the series, we could involve our national program girls, giving them invaluable game time ahead of the Olympics.
“The Bond program is one which the team and staff have constantly worked on, and it's fantastic to see them finally come away with the series win”
