'Queens of the desert' take down Kiwis in Dubai

1 year ago 113

By Sam Worthington with AP

Standout Madison Ashby described her squad arsenic "the queens of the desert" arsenic Australia won its 3rd consecutive Dubai Sevens rubric by beating New Zealand 26-19 successful the final.

It was adjacent until the 2nd fractional erstwhile Australia pulled distant with tries by Maddison Levi and Demi Hayes.

Ashby was a changeless menace during the tourney and was named subordinate of the final.

Watch the 2022-23 English Premiership Rugby play connected the location of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming ad-free, unrecorded and connected demand

"Like our coaches say, we're the queens of the desert," Ashby said.

It was the opening tourney of the 2022-23 satellite bid arsenic Australia looks to support its title.

"We couldn't person asked for a amended mode to commencement the season," manager Tim Walsh said.

"Our performances implicit the play person justified the enactment and strategies we person been focusing connected during pre-season. To execute truthful good successful the opening circular of an Olympic qualifying play showed large composure and resilience.

"Madison Ashby took her crippled to a caller level this tournament, arsenic she executed an array of skills and was omnipresent successful the large moments."

The bid moves to Cape Town adjacent weekend.

Sean Maloney and Morgan Turinui bathe successful a celebrated Wallabies comeback triumph and bespeak connected immoderate of their favourite 2022 moments some connected and disconnected the show

"We had a truly hard pre-season, but we were truthful supported by our coaching staff," co-captain Charlotte Caslick.

"We fought truly hard for everyone backmost home, who couldn't beryllium present – we did it for them. We've ne'er been successful a last similar that – it was specified a pugnacious crippled against New Zealand but recognition to them, they're satellite people athletes and specified a large opposition."

Australia's men's squad finished sixth successful Dubai aft losing to the United States successful the quarterfinals and Argentina successful the 5th spot playoff.

Australia had won the opening tourney successful Hong Kong and present beryllium 2nd successful the bid standings down Dubai winners South Africa.

"After the highs successful Hong Kong, we're precise disappointed successful our show present successful Dubai," manager John Manenti said.

"Every squad is doing their homework connected america and hunting america down, and due to the fact that of that, we're going to person to germinate arsenic a team. Though we've had a fewer injuries crossed the play and successful the lead-up, the boys person a knack of bouncing backmost from adversity, and they're looking guardant to the situation successful Cape Town."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here