Ireland's Women's rugby sevens team have finished in eighth place at the Sydney 7s.
It's the best-ever performance from Anthony Eddy's side in a World Series event, with the team improving from their ninth place finish in the opening round of the competition in Dubai in December.
Ireland's second place finish in Pool B on Friday, set up a Cup quarter-final with the United States on Saturday. The team lost 19-5, moving Eddy's side into the Plate semi-finals.
Ireland Women's 7s lost their quarter-final 17-5 to @USARugby. They now play @FFRugby in the 5th/6th place play-off at 2.28am (Irish time) pic.twitter.com/ExRMYyv8hC
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 4, 2017
Against France, Ireland ran into a 19-0 lead with tries from Katie Fitzhenry and two from Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe. The second half saw France score three unanswered tries, that were all converted to ensure a 21-19 win.
In the play-off for seventh and eighth place, Ireland lost to Russia in extra-time, due to a golden point. Megan Williams and Stacey Flood scored tries in the first half to give Ireland a 12-5 lead. Russia levelled the game at 12-12, before Elena Zdrokova scored the golden point, to give the Russians a 17-12 win.
Ireland eighth place finish is their best-ever in the World Sevens Series. They now lie in ninth place overall in the standings. The third round of the competition takes place next month in Las Vegas.
