Aussie sides reach Hamilton 7s quarters

Australia's women have won all three pool games on day one at the Hamilton rugby sevens, while the men's team also sealed a spot in the quarter-finals.

 TIM WALSH. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Australia's rugby sevens sides have both booked their tickets to the quarter-finals of the series event in Hamilton.

Tim Walsh's women returned to winning ways after losing the final in Cape Town to New Zealand last month.

The triple champions - Commonwealth, World Series and World Cup winners - won all three Pool B matches to get their campaign underway in perfect fashion on Saturday.

The co-World Series leaders, alongside the Kiwis, opened with a come-from-behind 26-14 victory over Japan and a 33-7 thumping of Canada, before wrapping up their day's efforts with a 43-0 drubbing of France to confirm top spot.

Maddison Levi was Australia's standout as they set up a last-eight clash with Great Britain, scoring two tries in each of the first two matches and a hat-trick against Les Bleus.

Australia's men, who missed out on the knock-out stages in South Africa, enjoyed more success in Hamilton.

Their Pool B adventure began with a 28-14 win against Great Britain, which was followed up with a 21-19 loss to the hosts.

But a hat-trick from Dietrich Roache in the 36-7 triumph over Tonga, their sixth straight against the Polynesians, sealed their progress in second place behind defending champions New Zealand.

"We had some really tough opponents today, especially the match against Australia," All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

"We are looking to continue our performance into day two."

John Manenti's men, the defending series champions, will take on the US in the Cup quarters on Sunday.


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