Bronze medals for sevens teams

New Zealand picked up a rugby sevens double, but not the one they were really after when they arrived in Birmingham.

The men’s and women’s teams both won their third place play-offs to claim bronze medals.

For most athletes in Birmingham, a bronze medal would be cause for major celebration, but the sevens teams are in a different category.

They both won Commonwealth Games gold on the Gold Coast four years ago, and last year the women won the Olympic gold and the men won the Olympic silver.

Both teams were shattered when they lost desperately close semi-finals in Birmingham and it was a tribute to their professionalism that they focused well enough to wins bronzes.

The New Zealand men beat Australia 26-12 after leading 14-7 at halftime.

There were two tries each to Leroy Carter and Moses Leo and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black kicked three conversions.

The New Zealand women had to work hard to hold off Canada, but in the end won 19-12. Sarah Hirini, Kelly Brazier and Alena Saili scored tries and Tyla Nathan-Wong and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane each kicked a conversion. New Zealand led 12-0 at halftime.