Great Britain won one and lost one on day one of the women’s rugby sevens event in Paris on Sunday.
In front of a record women’s standalone rugby crowd of 66,000 in the Stade de France, they got their Pool B fixtures off to a flyer with a 21-12 win over Ireland.
Ireland went ahead through an unconverted try from Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe in the first half before a brilliant finish from the halfway line from playmaker Isla Norman-Bell, who was excellent throughout, levelled things up.
The same player converted and it was 7-5 to Great Britain.
Just before half-time, Murphy Crowe scored her second and it was converted to make it 12-7 to Ireland at the break.
Great Britain did not panic though and they came out of the blocks quickly in the second period.
Welsh speedster Jasmine Joyce bagged a try converted by Norman-Bell and then Emma Uren, the skipper, scored another converted by Norman-Bell to make it 21-12 and that was the way it stayed.
Scot Lisa Thomson started this one as did player of the match Norman-Bell who has Scottish links.
Australia, one of the favourites here for gold, defeated South Africa 34-5 first up.
And, despite taking the lead in game two through a five-pointer from Heather Cowell when Australia were down to six with a player in the sin bin, Great Britain were put to the sword 36-5.
Thomson and Norman-Bell came off the bench in this one as Australia ran in six tries.
Great Britain can take plenty positives from the Ireland game into their crucial final pool game with South Africa on Monday which will be very important in the bid to make the quarter-finals.
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
Kayleigh Powell
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)
Rest of fixtures on July 29 and 30 depends on results
Isla Norman-Bell is pictured versus Ireland, thanks to World Rugby for the image
GH Media will be covering the Scots involved in sevens at the Olympics between July 27 and July 31