Australia Women Sevens side have shown remarkable fight in a 26-19 defeat to New Zealand in the Hong Kong Final.
It came minutes after an incredible 22-21 win by the Men over Fiji to claim bronze thanks to an after-the-siren Sid Harvey try.
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Tim Walsh went to the home of the World Series with the youngest squad in history, an average age of 21.5, and was instantly without Kahli Henwood (shoulder), the oldest player at 25, who didn’t feature in the entire tournament.
Teagan Levi injured her knee on day one, reducing them to 11 players, but this did not dull the Australian fight, as they pushed the Kiwis all the way.
Maddison Levi showed they were in the fight with the opener, but the Black Ferns Sevens’ class was evident as they scored two straight tries, including one down to six after Jorja Miller’s yellow card.
Levi nabbed her second before the break to level the scores as Miller returned to the field and made up for her error.
The NZ wunderkind scored twice in the second half and produced several turnovers at ruck time to dull the Aussies’ comeback.
Mackenzie Davis scored after the siren. However, it was too little, too late, as the Kiwis extended their lead at the top of the World Series ladder.
In the game before the Final, the Men produced a special upset to take down 19-time Hong Kong champions Fiji.
Fiji opened the Aussies up for the opening try to dot down inside 30 seconds.
A yellow card opened the door for Liam Barry’s side to strike as Hayden Sargeant took advantage for the lead.
James Turner extended Australia’s lead, but Fiji hit back after the siren for a two-point half time lead.
The Fijians picked up from where they left off in the second half, kicking clear for a nine point advantage.
This is where the young guns kicked into life.
Aden Ekanayake respond with a try in the corner to reduce the deficit as they burst into life.
Harvey, who was making a rare appearance in Hong Kong, came up with a one-on-one steal with two minutes late to camp Fiji in their 22.
They kept drawing penalties at opportunities to unleash their set plays before they delivered the winner.
The play shifted from sideline to sideline as Tunrer beat two defenders before Harvey latched onto his offload to dive over for the winner.
The Aussies had a chance late to win it with two tap penalties from just outside the 22.
Up stepped rookie Sidney Harvey, backing up James Turner’s break and diving over for the match-winner.
