New Zealand teams win men's and women's titles at the Hong Kong Sevens

New Zealand completed a tournament double at the Hong Kong Sevens, as the 3-day series bid farewell to the Hong Kong Stadium.

New Zealand men's sevens team won a tense final 10-7 against France to defend their Hong Kong Sevens title. A tense and nervy first half ended scoreless as both sides canceled each other out in the opening half with a number of unforced errors.

The best chance fell New Zealand’s way, but France’s Aaron Grandidier recovered well to cover tackle and snuff out the chance for the defending champions.

The second period kicked off with similar tension, but France gave away two quick penalties and New Zealand eventually broke the deadlock through a limping Scott Curry as they swung the ball from right to left.

They didn’t have to wait long for the second, however, a loose pass from Stephen Parez Edo Martin picked up by the All Blacks Sevens, and Cody Vai finding the space to extend their lead.

France brought some last-minute drama, stealing the ball with moments left. Varian Pasquet powered away to score, but just too late for them to mount one final attack to find a winner.

Separately, the New Zealand women's sevens team beat USA 36-7 to lift the trophy at Hong Kong Sevens.

Michaela Blyde scored a hat-trick as the Black Ferns Sevens proved too strong for a USA side making their first final appearance of the season.

Jorja Miller got the first points of the gold-medal match, bursting through on an outside break to score under the sticks for seven points. That lead was extended to 12 as the lethal Blyde couldn’t be stopped in the left corner.

The USA’s problems were compounded when Steph Rovetti was shown yellow for a tackle in the air, allowing Blyde to score an almost identical second. But there was hope on the stoke of half-time, Ilona Maher’s break finished by Alex Sedrick to make the score 17-7 at half time.

Blyde’s third in the second-half all-but secured New Zealand’s win, but Mahina Paul’s score cemented it, taking their lead to 29-7. Paul found a gap once more as the clock went into the red as New Zealand became Hong Kong champions for the second year in a row.

The medal matches brought an end to three days of the series in Hong Kong.

(Staff reporter and HSBC SVNS)