Great Britain managed to find the energy for one last push on Tuesday evening to defeat Ireland 28-12 and finish seventh in the women’s rugby sevens at the Olympics.
Having finished fourth in Rio and Tokyo, it was not the spot they were looking for three days ago at the start of this event in Paris, but after a mixed time of it and a loss to China on Tuesday morning at least things finished on something of a high.
Against China in the fifth-eighth place semi-final, Team GB were leading 15-14 heading into the dying seconds in the Stade de France, but a mistake by Isla Norman-Bell gave China one last chance to attack.
She threw the ball into touch rather than kicking it which is not allowed and, from the resultant penalty with the clock in the red, China scored a winning try and took it 19-15.
That, coupled with Ireland’s 19-7 loss to hosts France at the same stage, meant that Great Britain would play the Irish in the seventh-eighth place final.
GB had beaten Ireland 21-12 in the pool stages in Sunday and they won again here, this time 28-12.
With Norman-Bell, who has Scottish links, starting and Scot Lisa Thomson on the bench a try and conversion by Meg Jones had Great Britain 7-0 up early with Ireland’s Stacey Flood in the sin bin.
A Megan Burns try made it 7-5 before Jade Sheckells scored a long range try for GB, converted by captain Emma Uren, to make it 14-5.
Jones then bagged her second, converted by Norman-Bell, with Ireland’s Erin King yellow carded to make it 21-5 at the interval.
A Heather Cowell try, converted by Uren, extended the GB lead to 28-5 early in the second period before Jones was yellow carded.
Later on Ellie Kildunne was sin binned and Ireland scored a consolation try through Claire Boles.
In the China match earlier, Norman-Bell started with Thomson again on the bench.
It started well when Kildunne’s try made it 5-0 before two converted tries by China made it 14-5.
A Jasmine Joyce five-pointer made it 14-10 just before half-time and, in the second period, Ellie Boatman’s try made it 15-14 before the late aforementioned late drama.
In terms of the overall placings after three days which had seen nearly 200,000 supporters watching in total, New Zealand backed up their gold medal from Tokyo with another. They defeated silver medallists Canada 19-12 in the final.
USA took the bronze after edging out Australia 14-12, France were fifth after beating China 21-7, Great Britain were seventh, Japan took ninth by getting the better of Brazil 38-7 and South Africa defeated Fiji 21-15 to finish 11th.
- Scottish official Finlay Brown was an assistant referee for the final.
Great Britain women’s sevens Olympic squad
Amy Wilson Hardy
Ellie Boatman
Ellie Kildunne
Emma Uren (C)
Grace Crompton
Heather Cowell
Isla Norman-Bell
Jade Shekells
Jasmine Joyce
Lauren Torley
Lisa Thomson
Meg Jones
Reserves:
Abi Burton brought into the squad on the last day
Kayleigh Powell brought into the squad on the last day
Great Britain women’s sevens Olympic Pool B fixtures
Ireland, July 28 at 3.30pm local time (2.30pm UK) W 21-12
Australia, July 28 at 7.30pm local time (6.30pm UK) L 36-5
South Africa, July 29 at 2pm local time (1pm UK) W 26-17
Great Britain women’s sevens Olympic knock-out phase
QF USA, July 29 at 9.30pm local time (8.30pm UK) L 17-7
5th-8th place semi-final China, July 30 at 2.30pm local time (1.30pm UK) L 19-15
7th-8th place final Ireland, July 30 at 6pm local time (5pm UK) W 28-12
Great Britain are pictured, thanks to Team GB for the image
GH Media will be covering the Scots involved in sevens at the Olympics between July 27 and July 31