Defending champions New Zealand showed their class with two wins on day one of the Cathay\/HSBC Hong Kong SVNS at Kai Tak Sports Park.<\/p>\n
The Black Ferns Sevens were joined in claiming two victories by Canada, Australia, USA and France as the quarter-final line-up begins to take shape.<\/p>\n
Meaningful pool games await on Saturday when places in the last four will be decided after a series of off-your-seat try-scoring moments at the new Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, which comes 50 years after the first Hong Kong Sevens.<\/p>\n
POOL A: Black Ferns Sevens flex their muscles as Miller seizes centre stage<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s women are the finest team on the planet in Sevens Rugby and they made an ominous start on day one in Hong Kong with two straight wins.<\/p>\n
First, they claimed a 23rd straight win against Brazil in HSBC Sevens but were made to work for their 29-12 success.<\/p>\n
Katelyn Vahaakolo scored an early hat-trick and Jorja Miller was also on target.<\/p>\n
Brazil, though, gave the Black Ferns 7s a fright with Camilla Carvalho\u2019s delightful quickfire double before Kelsey Teneti added a fifth try for New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Then they beat Japan 38-7 in the last women\u2019s fixture of the day with a hat-trick from the brilliant Jorja Miller and further scores from Mahina Paul, Risi Pouri-Lane and Katelyn Vahaakolo.<\/p>\n
Mei Ohtani scored Japan\u2019s try but the Black Ferns Sevens were comprehensive victors as Miller went on to complete her hat-trick before Risi Pouri-Lane also touched down.<\/p>\n
Head coach Cory Sweeney said: \u201cThe girls were awesome and are preparing for totally different situations all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been going well but will continue to take things one game at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Fiji overcame rivals Brazil 15-12 for their first win in a tense clash that could have easily gone either way.<\/p>\n
Atelaite Ralivanawa, Verenaisi Ditavutu and Silika Qalo scored for the Fijiana with Thalia Costa and Yasmim Soares touching down for Brazil.<\/p>\n
Fiji captain Ditavutu said: \u201cWe played with some real teamwork and just went out and showed what we are capable of.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what the Fijiana is all about \u2013 making our supporters proud and everyone back home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Japan, meanwhile, eked out a hard-fought 12-5 win over Fiji.<\/p>\n
Atelaite Ralivanawa opened the scoring for the Fijiana before tries from Mei Ohtani and Natsuki Ouchida gave Japan victory.<\/p>\n
But they were brought back down to earth by the Black Ferns Sevens in the final women’s game of the day.<\/p>\n
POOL B: Canada and Australia take maximum points <\/p>\n
Canada showed their class with two comprehensive wins to claim top spot in Pool B after big wins over Great Britain and South Africa.<\/p>\n
First they flexed their muscles with a 41-7 victory over GB with scores from Caroline Crossley, Breanne Nicholas, Alysha Corrigan and Charity Williams (two) Kennedi Stevenson and Savannah Bauder with Heather Cowell replying for GB.<\/p>\n
Canada wowed the Hong Kong crowd again with a 31-0 win over South Africa.<\/p>\n
This time their tries came from Alysha Corrigan (two), Charity Williams, Florence Symonds and Carmen Izyk.<\/p>\n
There was a similar statement of intent when Australia sailed to two big wins over South Africa and Great Britain.<\/p>\n
First they ran out comprehensive 33-0 victors over South Africa as Bienne Terita and Teagan Levi both scored twice while Kaitlin Shave also touched down.<\/p>\n
Australia then further illustrated their quality by beating Great Britain 34-7.<\/p>\n
The mercurial Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan both scored twice and Kaitlin Shave and Bienne Terita also touched down with Katie Shillaker replying for GB.<\/p>\n
POOL C: USA and France show their mettle with two wins<\/p>\n
France kicked off proceedings with a 29-14 victory over Argentina in Pool C.<\/p>\n
Sofia Gonzalez and Josefina Padellaro scored for Argentina but tries from Lou Noel, Anne-Cecile Ciofani, Lili Dezou, Alycia Christiaens and Chloe Jacquet secured a comfortable win for France.<\/p>\n
Also in Pool C, USA claimed an impressive 24-7 win over Spain.<\/p>\n
Sammy Sullivan scored twice, and Ariana Ramsey and Kaylen Thomas also got on the scoresheet, whose sole try came from Juana Stella.<\/p>\n
Another entertaining encounter saw France beat Spain 31-14.<\/p>\n
France led 19-0 at the break through tries from Alycia Christiaens, Anaick Konyi and Chloe Jacquet before Juana Stella and Denisse Gortazar hit back for Spain.<\/p>\n
Further scores, though, from Christiaens and Marie-Aurelie Castel confirmed France’s superiority.<\/p>\n
The in-form Sammy Sullivan continued her blistering start to the weekend with another brace as USA beat Argentina 27-5.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Kaylen Thomas, Kristi Kirshe and Autumn Czaplicki also scored with Talia Rodich replying for Argentina.<\/p>\n
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