By
The Springbok Women's Sevens team outplayed Argentina 21-12 to win the third and final World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger tournament in Poland and claim their first title of the year.
In the opening tournament in Cape Town, they finished third, and a week later the South Africans were runners up in the second tournament at Athlone Stadium. This time around in Krakow, however, they saved their best for last, going all the way to claim the top spot on the podium.
The win was not enough though to topple Kenya, who won the first two legs in Cape Town, from the top of the standings, but the fact that they outplayed the East Africans 22-10 in their semi-final on Saturday afternoon will offer some consolation.
South Africa outscored Argentina by three tries to two in the final, with Nadine Roos converting all three in a rematch of their final pool game on Friday, which Renfred Dazel's team won 22-0.
Scores were tied 7-7 at the break, but the usual imprint of class by Roos in the second half soon separated the two sides again.
Zintle Mpupha scored the opening try in the second minute following good defensive pressure that forced Argentina to give the ball away, with Roos converting. The South Americans came back with a converted try by Maria Tallidrid late in the first half.
The second half belonged to South Africa. Mathrin Simmers had a good run out wide with her inside pass finding Rights Mkhari in full flight and the forward scored under the poles. Roos converted and then ran in from 60m out to score the third try, with her conversion pushing the lead out to 21-7 with less than two minutes to go.
Argentina did manage a late try after the hooter, but that was way too late to earn the win.
Earlier against Kenya, the Bok Women controlled most of the match, scoring four tries in the process and only conceding two, right at the death when the result was already in the bag.
Ayanda Malinga again opened the scoring - converted by Roos - using her pace to pass the Kenyan defender on the outside, before Maria Tshiremba scored the second try after a strong hand-off on the left wing.
Roos went over after the break from a quick-tap penalty inside Kenya's half, catching the defence napping, before Mpupha sealed the deal by powerfully crashing over in the corner after another good run by Malinga.
South Africa booked their place with three pool wins on Friday, and also qualified for the playoff tournament in Los Angeles next month. Argentina qualified for the final with a 21-20 victory over Thailand in the first semi-final, despite being outscored by three tries to four.
