LOS ANGELES: New Zealand beat Australia 17-14 to win the Vancouver Sevens Sunday and solidify their lead in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Second-half yellow cards to Maurice Longbottom and Lachie Miller proved costly for Australia as New Zealand came from behind to win their third sevens title this season after triumphs in Cape Town and Hamilton.
Australia had a chance to claim a victory after New Zealand’s Sam Dickson was sin-binned late, but a wild forward pass from Lewis Holland allowed the Kiwis to hang on.
Australia were down by two men with four minutes remaining when Joe Ravouvou scored his second try to put New Zealand ahead.
Australia had dominated the opening five minutes, but managed to score just once on a try from Anderson. Ravouvou dotted down for New Zealand’s first try, but Australia led 14-5 at halftime after a breakaway try by Longbottom.
After Longbottom was sin-binned for a high tackle early in the second half Andrew Knewstubb’s try trimmed the deficit to two points.
Miller was then shown a yellow card over a late tackle and New Zealand took advantage. New Zealand top the standings on 115 points with South Africa second on 104. Fiji are third on 83 and Australia fourth on 81. Earlier Sunday, Suffocating defense had keyed New Zealand’s 17-5 quarter-final win over Fiji.
Tries from Tim Mikkeson and Sione Molia saw New Zealand take a 12-0 halftime lead as the Fijians struggled to get their running game going. Fiji’s lone try, by Josua Vakurnuabili, came with New Zealand down a man. But the All Blacks Sevens responded by securing the ball on the re-start and finishing with a try from Joe Ravouvou. AFP
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