During the opening round of the HSBC Sevens World Series, fans at the Cbus Super Stadium were treated to three high-octane encounters between Australia and Canada women.
Hosts Australia lost the opening match 17-12 but came back to win the series 2-1. Tim Walsh's side won the second match by a reverse of the score in the opening match with Ellia Green and Emma Tonegato (2) scoring the tries in the 17-12 victory.
In the third, final and decisive match, tries from Alicia Quirk, Charlotte Caslick and a 70-metre effort from Green proved the difference in the 17-15 defeat of Canada.
Both sides were using this as preparation for the Women's Sevens World Series which starts in Dubai in December and forms part of the Olympic qualification process.
"We have had a huge pre-season and it has all been directed to this qualifying Series, our goal is to finish in the top four and automatically qualify for the Olympics. Dubai is the first on the Series and we're looking to start off with a bang," said Emilee Cherry, current IRB Women's Sevens Player of the Year, but missing this series due to injury.
The Australian women finished second on the World Series last year, and also won a Youth Olympic Games gold medal in Rugby Sevens' first appearance at an Olympic Games in Nanjing this year.
Having turned professional, the Olympic dream is now becoming a possibility for Cherry.
"We're so grateful to have the ARU's confidence in backing us for qualifying for the Olympics and hopefully getting a medal in a few years' time. Training day in day out has done wonders for us, and hopefully we can keep on improving," added Cherry.
"Coming second last year, having a new coach, centralising in Sydney along with the recent announcement of being in the Commonwealth Games in 2018, in Australia, it is all absolutely huge for us, and it is a very exciting time to be a part of Rugby Sevens.
"The Olympics has such euphoria around it and growing up as a kid that was all I wanted to do and that dream is now a possibility.
"That is really mind blowing and we really have to pull it back and focus on this Series. But to be able to go to the Olympics would absolutely be a dream come true."
