Black Ferns Sevens lock down USA in tight affair to clinch final berth

The Black Ferns Sevens had won eleven straight semi-final games, extending that streak to twelve on Tuesday morning, where they beat the USA, 19-12, at BC Place.

Just under 24 hours since she scored her 100th HSBC SVNS Series career try, Black Ferns Sevens star Jorja Miller got proceedings underway with a simple try down the right-hand touchline.

The conversion was unsuccessful, but it was an ideal start during the first half of the cup semi-final against the USA.

The underdogs in the encounter then hit back shortly after the restart, with Kaylen Thomas breaking Teneti’s tackle just inside their own half, storming away to score under the posts.

Conversion was successful, giving the USA a 7-5 lead with only one minute to go until the second half.

The Kiwis couldn’t claim the restart, taking the game to halftime at BC Place in Vancouver, with the USA leading 7-5 as they look to beat the Black Ferns Sevens for the third time this season.

She got her hands on the ball in midfield, jinking and jiving her way past a couple of defenders, before putting a deadly left-foot step on the last two defenders to sprint away and take the lead for Sweeney’s side.

Jaymie Kolose looked like she was going to pounce on a loose pass by the USA, but she knocked the ball on ten meters short of the line, leaving a certain try out there in the semi-final.

The star of the show, Miller, then bullied her way over the line from a quick-tap, but was held up just over the line with just over two minutes to play.

The USA were then penalised at scrumtime, which gave Mahina Paul the opportunity to take another quick-tap. She did just that, planting the ball down under the posts to put the game without reach for USA.