New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens kicked off a new season on the world circuit with a hard-fought 19-12 victory over Great Britain on Friday.
On the opening day of the Dubai Sevens, the first event of the Sevens World Series, Michaela Blyde opened the scoring for the Kiwis with her first touch of the ball, then threw the final pass to set up Shiray Kaka on a mistake by Great Britain.
Great Britain, who wore black armbands in the Pool B game on the occasion of the recent passing of Scottish rugby legend Doddie WeirFinally got some ball late in the first half and Jasmine Joyce fired away to close the gap to 14-5.
Christiaan Kotze/Stuff
Michaela Blyde has scored the opening try of the Black Ferns Sevens of the Sevens World Series season.
Only a desperate cover tackle from Jorja Miller prevented Joyce from scoring a second when the halftime horn sounded.
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But Ellie Boatman closed the gap to 14-12, thanks to a superb defense from Great Britain that drove the Kiwis back and then forced captain Tyla Nathan-Wong to punt.
However, all that hard work was undone in the next possession when Niall Williams showed her strength to break free after the Black Ferns sevens found their offloading game.
Great Britain had a chance to tie the game after the siren went off, but Williams saved the day by winning a penalty on the breakdown.
Nathan-Wong converted two tries from the Black Ferns sevens.