Photo Credit: Karen Watson/Rugby Australia
After two months of competition, the 2018 Aon Uni 7s series has come to an end with the University of Sydney notching a bronze medal in the final round at the University of Adelaide.
The result was essential to secure their overall fourth place finish on the series ladder with 66 points, behind winners Griffith University (94), last year’s winners, the University of Queensland (86) and Macquarie University (82).
Round five saw the Students place second in their pool behind hosts, the University of Adelaide.
They began their pool campaign with a thumping win over Melbourne University, 36-0, where Kirrily Laws and Claudia McLaren bagged themselves a double. Captain, Olivia White and Emma Wade also added points, going over for one each.
It was a far tighter contest against the University of Tasmania, where a try in the 13th minute from White secured the Students’ 24-21 win. Jakiya Whitfeld was also instumental, contributing 14 of 24 points.
The final game of the day was also won in the final minutes with Whitfeld going over in the 11th to help Uni claim a 19-14 win over Macquarie.
Day two saw the Students’ luck run out with a loss at the hands of tournament hosts, the University of Adelaide, 14-5, and ultimate series winners, Griffith University, 39-5.
However where it counted – in the third place playoff – the University of Sydney was able to snatch a win over Adelaide in hard-fought contest to take bronze.
The score was 14-10 with White and Whitfeld scoring tries and Barbara Waddell and Sydney Gregson producing successful conversions.
A standout performer throughout the entire series for Sydney University was Jakiya Whitfeld, nicknamed ‘Winx’ in reference to her incredible speed.
Her contribution to not only Uni’s success, but the whole tournament, was celebrated with her taking out the ‘Player of the Series’ honours and being named in the 2018 Dream Team.
Congratulations to the entire squad, coaching and support staff who helped make the University’s inaugural Aon Uni 7s campaign such a strong one.