Memorable weekend in Vegas

The semi-finals and final took place on Saturday and Sunday in Las Vegas Sam Boyd Stadium in front of thousands of spectators and a US national live TV audience during the latest leg of the mens HSBC Sevens World Series. But the tournament began on Friday, under glorious blue skies, with a stand full of enthusiastic supporters, and a horizon of desert and mountains that looked stunning.

And the rugby did not let anyone down either. Five national teams USA, Canada, France, Spain and Netherlands were joined by the Maple Leafs (effectively Canada B), Tyrolian Select from Austria (more about them later), and Hawaii Select, who were promoted from the club tournament after the last minute withdrawal of Kenya as a result of visa problems.

With the tournament coinciding with the Six Nations, France were not quite at full strength though the squad included most of the players that reached the final in Dubai but all of the other nations were very much at full strength, with many faces in the USA and Canada squads who would be familiar to anyone who saw them at the World Cup.

The Hawaiian Select also include a couple of Eagles, as well as Natasha Kai one of the highest profile womens international footballers in the USA who exploded into this tournament with a try in the opening seconds of Hawaiis Pool B game with Spain. Fast, running great lines, and with a fantastic change of pace (and all this with a broken hand), for a few minutes her input looked like causing a real shock result in the opening round of games before the Spanish took charge and ran out comfortable winners. Natasha went on to score tries against the USA, the Maple Leafs and the Tyrolians demonstrating a real star in the making, if rugby can keep hold of her!

However, Pool B quickly developed into a two horse race between France and Spain. It was in Pool A where the real excitement was to be found - with USA, Canada and Netherlands competing for just two semi-final places. And it was another fast runner who caught the eye here, though the name of Kelly Van Harskamp is hardly unknown in Europe. She took Canada by surprise in round 1, however, and it looked like she had won the game for them until the Canucks stole the game with a try in the last seconds.

But this was just the hors d'uvres. In Round 2 the Dutch faced the USA, and quickly ran into a 14-0 lead, only for the USA to fight back to 15-14 only for Kelly to breakthrough in the dying seconds to win the game. The USA now took on Canada, having to win and win well. In a titanic battle they did the former, but not the latter, their 7-5 triumph meaning that Netherlands would have to win their final game over the Tyrolian Select by over 35 points to put the USA out (or over 63 to win the pool) - a situation that also reminded some watching of the WRWC pools!

Which brings us to the Tyrolians. Made up of players from the Womens Rugby Club, Innsbruck, they had intended to enter the club tournament but for reasons that no-one seemed to be able to adequately explain found themselves in the international tournament. To say that they were a bit out of their depth is an understatement, but they won the hearts of everyone watching (not to mention those deciding the Spirit of LVI award) for their determination never to give up. International coaches from all parts of the tournament came to help them out, but they could do nothing to stop the Dutch. Determined to not only qualify for next stage, but also gain an advantageous draw, they ran out 89-0 winners, giving them a semi-final against France.

On Day 2 the USA unsurprisingly took the Plate, before the action moved over to the Sam Boyd. Under floodlights the Netherlands played a great game against the French, some fantastic cover defence keeping the French at bay until the very final play of the game. However, even that did not matter as Kelly and her team-mates had already put three tries past their European rivals resulting in a comfortable 17-5 win.

The second semi-final was a rather more scrappy affair, and largely dominated by noticeably larger and more physical Canadians, who played all of the opening seven minutes in the Spanish half, scoring two tries, before adding a third at the end of the second.

And so to the final and a superbly exciting battle, a wonderful advert for the womens game broadcast live across North America. Canada open the scoring early in the first half, only for Annemarije van Rossum to reply and a great kick from the touchline puts Netherlands ahead with just the restart before the half-time break. But that single play was enough a great run by Magali Harvey setting up a ruck near the Dutch line from which Barbara Mervin scores. Safely converted, thats 12-7 to Canada at the break

Its a really physical game now, but after some memorable exchanges its the Dutch who break the deadlock Pien Selbeck in at the corner. No conversion this time, so 12-12.

And so it remains until with seconds on the clock Canada steal a Dutch lineout, Magili Harvey cuts inside and scores! Conversion missed, but Canada do not care. The whistle goes, and Canada are the USA Sevens Champions!

Thus ends a thrilling tournament, sevens and womens rugby - at its best at a superbly well managed event. North America wins this battle just but next most of these teams will be heading out to Hong Kong, where they will be up against the best of Asia (and perhaps Australasia) . Whoever wins that, one thing is certain these teams are already playing with the 2016 Olympics in mind (its the topic of every other conversation). Those countries that have yet to even make the starting blocks could live to regret it.