Monday 18 April 2016 10:28, UK
England Women overpowered New Zealand 31-14 to win the final of the Langford Sevens in Canada on Sunday.
New Zealand were first off the mark in a first half which featured five tries, but it was England who lead 19-14 at the break, with two tries from Heather Fisher, who was named player of the final.
Joanne Watmore followed up her first-half try with a second from a counter-ruck and despite a strong battle, England's experience and fitness shone through to put the game out of New Zealand's reach.
Captain Emily Scarratt's breakaway try in the first half was followed up by further touchdowns from 20-year-old Abbie Brown and a sprint break from Watmore.
Reflecting on the final win, Scarratt said: "It was an awesome first half. There was a bit of ping pong to start, with tries scored and conceded but the girls dug deep.
"We've had a good couple of weeks out here in America and Canada and it's been a really long while for an England Women's Sevens team to get something like this in our hands we're over the moon."
Coach Simon Middleton said: "The girl's put in a spectacular day of rugby. These tournaments are all about day two as we have just proved as our performances all day were sensational.
"We didn't have a great day one but we dusted ourselves off and the girls have shown what a talented group they are and what great shape they are in."
England, who finished second in Pool C after losing to Canada, put on dominant displays against the USA and World Rugby HSBC Women's Sevens Series leaders Australia to reach the final.
They opened the second day with a decisive 29-7 victory of the USA, with Watmore and Danielle Waterman, making her first series appearance following 13 months on the sidelines, each scoring twice.
Their 15-5 semi-final win against Australia was a major upset and the first time this season that Australia failed to win a round, having claimed top prize in Dubai, Sao Paulo and Atlanta.
With under four months to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Middleton added: "We came into this double legger [Atlanta and Langford] wanting to get certain results to progress as a squad and we got that."
Heading into the final round in Clermont-Ferrand in France over the weekend of May 28-29, England remain third in the overall series standings, but now sit just four points behind New Zealand's 64, with Australia well ahead on 76.
