Australia Women maintain top position in World Rugby Sevens Series after winning Sydney leg

Australia Women 7s 31 - 0 New Zealand Women 7s

A clinical performance from Australia saw them blank New Zealand 31-0 in the final to win the Sydney leg of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series.

Shannon Parry gave early momentum to Australia with a first minute try and six minutes later Charlotte Caslick also crossed over. Ellia Green, Evania Pelite and Emma Sykes scored further tries in the second half as Australia completely dominated the trans-Tasman final to win their second sevens title that saw them take their tally to 40 points - 10 more than second placed New Zealand.

After the full time whistle the World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year 2016, Caslick, was naturally delighted with the winner's performance over the course of the three days.

“It was a fantastic way to finish the tournament here in Sydney in front of our home crowd especially as New Zealand are so tough to beat," she said.

"Our coach Tim Walsh wanted a better defensive effort in this tournament as it was not up to par last year, so we have worked really hard on it and we finished without conceding a try which is awesome.”

Earlier, Australia defeated Spain 29-0 and Russia 31-0 in the knock-out stages to reach the final while New Zealand defeated Ireland and Canada in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively.

Meanwhile, England went on to beat Fiji 29-10 in the Challenge Final.