The University Women’s Sevens series is a tournament for senior female rugby sevens players representing universities from around Australia. With the support of Rugby Australia, the 2022 season will consists of three tournaments hosted in Adelaide, Newcastle, and Canberra throughout October. The second tournament hosted by the University of Newcastle (UON) on Awabakal country at St Johns Oval, Newcastle consisted of six regular round games before teams entered the play offs.
It was a slow start for the new Maali Sevens line with the team facing two losses to start the second tournament. Tough losses to the University of Canberra and the University of Melbourne, who the Maali side beat previously, halted the team’s goal to secure gold in Newcastle. Team Maali was able to re-group as they found the form that saw them reach the gold medal match in the first tournament. The women were able to build momentum with convincing wins over the University of Sydney, University of Adelaide and the University of Newcastle.
The Maali side continue to search for answers to beat Bond University with the team going down the reigning champions in a similar score line as last weekend. Despite the loss, UWA Maali were able to produce a consistent form which secured them a top four spot on the ladder. The final day of competition saw UWA Maali compete against University of Newcastle in the bronze medal match.
It was unfinished business for the Maali Sevens as the side deviated from their goal to secure gold in Newcastle. The women channelled their disappoint and were able to display a clinical performance that showcased their true potential. In decisive form, UWA Maali Sevens team walk away with a bronze medal with a scintillating score line of 17- 0 over the University of Newcastle.
Fortunately, the University Women’s Sevens series will have a break next weekend allowing the Maali side to go back to the drawing board and more importantly to rest and re-group ahead of the last tournament in Canberra at the end of the month.
Score lines for all fixtures for the weekend’s matches can be found on UniSport Australia website, and all matches can be livestreamed and on replay via UniSport TV.