USA topple Australia 14-10 to top their pool at SVNS Valladolid

The United States women’s sevens side produced a composed defensive performance to beat Australia 14-10 at Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid on Saturday, topping their pool at the SVNS Valladolid stop and setting up a quarter-final draw that pits the Australians against France.

Kaylen Thomas opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but Maddison Levi hit back almost immediately for Australia. A missed conversion from Tia Hinds left the Australians trailing by two at half-time, and Sariah Ibarra extended the USA’s lead after the break. Teagan Levi gave the Australians hope with a late runaway try to make it a one-score game with under three minutes remaining, but the USA held firm in scorching conditions.

The closing stages were tense. With roughly 30 seconds left, Alex ‘Spiff’ Sedrick and Australia’s Demi Kennewell raced for a loose ball before it rolled into touch. A knock-on from Heidi Dennis and a long overthrow from Tia Hinds at the subsequent lineout ended Australia’s hopes, and the USA scrummed down before kicking the ball into the stands.

The victory means the USA have now beaten the two dominant forces in women’s sevens this season. New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens — who enjoyed a dominant regular season — were upset by the USA on the opening day of the Dubai Sevens in November, and Australia have now suffered the same fate.

“Feels pretty good. After yesterday we had our work cut out for us but we’ve been training for this moment for the last four weeks and basically all season,” USA captain Kristi Kirshe said. “Just really proud of that result, really proud of how the girls committed to each other and had good intensity at the right moment.”

Teammate Sammy Sullivan echoed the sentiment. “With the leadership that we have in our staff and our beautiful captain who inspires us every day, this is what we wanted to happen. We said we’re going to top the pool this training block and we did it, despite losing on the first day.”

Maddison Levi’s try continued her remarkable scoring run — she now sits just 19 tries shy of equalling the all-time SVNS Series record held by New Zealand’s Michaela Brake.

In the other pool, France were beaten 24-7 by Canada, with the Canadians claiming top spot in Pool C. Australia will face France in the opening quarter-final at Estadio José Zorrilla, with the full knockout bracket now set following the conclusion of the women’s pool stage.