13 Oct 2010

NZ wins fourth straight gold in sevens

3:47 pm on 13 October 2010

New Zealand's rugby sevens team have won their fourth-straight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

New Zealand defeated Australia 24-17 in a nail-biting final to ensure they are still the only team to have won the Commonwealth title since sevens entered the Games in 1998.

New Zealand were the first side to score in the match after some solid defence from both sides in the opening minutes, but a yellow card to Liam Messam following a high tackle, saw Australia hit back with two tries to lead 10-7 at half-time.

Australia scored again after the break, and the New Zealand side looked unsettled in the heat following two full days of competition.

But the New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens put some fresh legs on the park, and the defending champions made it over the line three times before the full-time whistle to claim gold for the fourth straight time.

In the bronze medal play-off, South Africa beat England 17-14 in an equally close match.