All Blacks 7s third in World Series + Football Ferns stun England

All Blacks 7s third in World Series + Football Ferns stun England

New Zealand's All Blacks Sevens have claimed second at the Paris Sevens to finish third overall in the 2018-19 World Series.

The Kiwis came up against old foes Fiji in the finals at the Paris Sevens.

With temperatures during the day touching 30 degrees Fiji scored rampantly early on, with New Zealand struggling at 7-28 by halftime.

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In the second half New Zealand began to claw back some of the margin. Regan Ware and Dylan Collier scored within a minute of each other to be followed by another to Ware before the game ended.

They eventually went down 35-24.

Meanwhile the Football Ferns have beaten England for the first time ever, just 10 days out from their opening match at the Fifa Women's World Cup.

Two-time Olympian Sarah Gregorius scored her 34th international goal five minutes into the second half as the Ferns faced up to England in Brighton.

The veteran forward showed good awareness and was on the spot to smash the ball home after English keeper Carly Telford could only parry Rosie White's effort from just inside the area.

The single goal was enough for the Ferns who took a 1-0 win over the world No 3 Lionesses.

The Ferns begin their campaign against the Netherlands on June 12, with Canada and Cameroon their other opponents in group E.

In Germany at the Canoe Sprint World Cup the development New Zealand’s women’s K4 500m crew produced a quality performance to place third in the B Final on the final day of action at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Duisburg, Germany.

The development Kiwi team of Alicia Hoskin, Briar McLeely, Danielle Watson and Britney Ford offered further evidence of the depth of women’s elite paddling to produce a highly creditable performance on the global stage.

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In a spirited showing, which tested their physical and mental reserves, the quartet put in a mature and composed performance in the B Final.

Sitting fifth at halfway they powered home strongly in the second half of the race to place third in 1:34.377.

Max Brown and Kurtis Imrie climaxed their successful World Cup campaign by placing 8th in the B Final of the men’s K2 1000m.

The Black Sticks women were also in action over the long weekend, taking on the USA in Pennsylvania.

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The New Zealand side put themselves in front early in the match and never took their foot off the throttle to claim a 3-0 win.

“We were able to get in behind the opposition and executed well tonight in the front third of the field. The next few games are going to be important if we are going to make the top four and grand final weekend,” said Captain Stacey Michelsen.