New Zealand’s all-conquering women’s side claimed a fifth HSBC SVNS Series title in six main Series tournaments this season in New York after edging out Australia 22-21 in an extraordinary final.
The Black Ferns were already crowned overall series winners on Saturday but their eyes were firmly fixed on a seventh all-time title in the USA.
And they claimed it with a hugely dramatic final win over fierce rivals Australia to clinch their fifth tournament win of the season and underline their status as the best team in the sport.
New Zealand topped Pool A on Saturday with three straight wins over France, Fiji and Great Britain before beating USA in Sunday’s semi-final.
Australia, who topped Pool B, beat Fiji in the semi-final to secure their final spot fought bravely throughout and scored through Maddison Levi and Teagan Levi (two) against the Black Ferns.
New Zealand, once again, though, showed their champion pedigree to win it with tries from Kelsey Teneti (two), Alena Saili and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
Player of the Final Teneti said: “It was a full fight and it didn’t take one person [to win it] – it took the whole team.
“Words can’t even describe the feeling and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of this amazing team.”
After yet another final win, captain Risi Pouri-Lane said: “It was about heart because finals footie can go either way, so we had to grind it out.
“But the belief in every single one of us was huge and we spoke about doing the simple things well.
“Those Aussie girls are so talented and we knew what we had to do to try and shut them down.”
THIRD PLACE: USA claim bronze medal to delight home crowd
The third place play-off saw hosts USA beat Fiji 26-17 to spark wild celebrations amongst their fans at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
The Fijiana touched down through Reapi Ulunisau’s brace but Kristi Kirshe, Su Adegoke, Kaylen Thomas and Ariana Ramsey put the USA in total control before Mere Vocevoce’s late consolation.
The USA showed their class to secure a second consecutive third-place finish and confirm their status as a coming force in Sevens rugby.
In the first of the fifth place semi-finals, France beat Canada 24-19 in a highly entertaining encounter.
Savannah Bauder, Vanessa Chiappetta and Charity Williams scored for Canada but tries from Lou Noel, Yolaine Yengo and Alycia Christiaens (two) earned the win for France.
Japan showed their class with a 31-14 victory over Great Britain in the second fifth place semi-final.
Mayu Yoshino, Michiyo Suda (two), Himawari Matsuda and Ria Anoku all touched down with Katie Shillaker and Grace Crompton replying for Great Britain.
SEMI-FINALS: New Zealand and Australia seal final spots
The Black Ferns racked up an 18th win in 20 matches against the USA by beating them 26-14 to seal a final spot and maintain their unbeaten run.
Su Adegoke and Kaylen Thomas scored for the USA but the Black Ferns showed all their qualities with tries from Kelsey Teneti, Jaymie Kolose, Risi Pouri-Lane and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
In the second semi-final, Australia stretched their long unbeaten record against Fiji to win 22-14 and secure a final spot.
Maddison Levi helped create the opening score for Tia Hinds and then touched down herself with her seventh of the weekend, a 47th of the season and 253rd try overall on the circuit.
It was a reminder of Levi’s awesome ability and her younger sister Tegan then grabbed Australia’s third try before Madison Ashby weighed in with their fourth.
Mariana Talatoka and Ana Maria Naimasi touched down for Fiji, who have never beaten Australia with their record against them now standing at 42 losses and one draw.
A superb double from Charity Williams, plus tries from Mahalia Robinson from Eden Kilgour, saw Canada beat Great Britain 22-14 in the seventh place play-off.
Great Britain scored through the prolific Katie Shillaker and Heather Cowell but Canada ran out worthy victors.
France overturned Japan’s 15-0 interval lead to claim a dramatic 19-15 in the fifth place play-off.
Hazuki Ouchida notched a clinically-executed brace and Chiaki Saegusa added a third before the break but France replied through Anaick Konyi, Lou Noel and Marie-Aurelie Castel to seal the win.