The New Zealand women’s sevens rugby team began the defence of their Commonwealth Games crown with two emphatic victories on the opening day of the tournament.
In their early game New Zealand outclassed Canada 45-7, after leading 17-0 at halftime.
For New Zealand there were tries to Michaela Blyde (2), Kelly Brazier, Portia Woodman, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, Stacey Fluhler and Alena Saili. Tyla Nathan-Wong kicked 2 conversions and Pouri-Lane 3.
Woodman, the New Zealand speedster, suffered an ankle sprain during the game and sat out the second match of the day.
Later in the afternoon, New Zealand dismantled Sri Lanka 60-0, after leading 36-0 at the break.
For New Zealand Fluhler (2), Blyde (6), Nathan-Wong ad Jazmin Felix Hotham scored tries and Nathan-Wong converted five of them. Blyde’s six tries was the most scored by a New Zealander in a Commonwealth Games sevens match.
The New Zealand men struggled more in opening the defence of their Games sevens crown, nearly coming unstuck against Samoa late in the day.
Earlier, the men enjoyed a first round romp against Sri Lanka, easing to a 63-5 win, after leading 28-5 at halftime. There were tries to Scott Curry, Dylan Collier, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (2), Joe Webber, Sione Molia (2), Akuila Rokolisoa and Caleb Tangitau. McGarvey-Black kicked 5 conversions and Rokolisoa 4.
But against Samoa it was nip and tuck.
New Zealand trailed 17-7 at halftime, and found the fired-up Samoans difficult to quell.
In the second half New Zealand gradually pulled back, but they only got their noses in front in the closing moments.
For New Zealand Sam Dickson, Webber and Tangitau scored tries and McGarvey-Black converted two of them.