CLERMONT FERRAND, France — Veteran Ashley Steacy ended her international rugby sevens career on a winning note Sunday as Canada thumped France 36-7 to win the bronze medal at the Clermont-Ferrand Sevens.
New Zealand defeated Australia 22-7 to win the Cup that Canada has hoisted last year. It was the fourth straight tournament victory for the Black Ferns, who won five of the six World Series events to handily finish first in the season standings.
Canada ended up in the bronze medal game after losing 19-14 to Australia in the semifinal. With the two teams tied in second place at 82 points going into the tournament, that result consigned Canada to third spot in the overall standings behind the Aussies.
The Canadian women won the Cup in Sydney, finished runner-up in Japan and Langford, B.C., third in Las Vegas and sixth in the season-opening stop in Dubai.
Canada was also third on the World Series last season and won Olympic bronze in Rio last summer.
Captain Ghislaine Landry capped a marvellous season with three tries on the day to reach 101 for her career, only the third woman in World Series history to crack the 100-try plateau.
The 29-year-old from Toronto led the circuit in scoring for the second straight season with 269 points, 69 ahead of runner-up Michaela Blyde of New Zealand. Landry is also the all-time leading World Series scorer with 844 points.
Landry was named to the tournament dream team. The Canadian skipper and teammate Britt Benn were also named to the season dream team.
Steacy led the Canadians out against the French in her 18th and final World Series event. The 29-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta., made her sevens debut 11 years ago in San Diego.
She finishes with 206 career World Series points.
Charity Williams scored four tries against the French, a Canadian record for tries in a women's World Series match. Julia Greenshields and Landry added tries. Landry kicked two conversions, with Steacy booting another.
Williams led the tournament with seven tries while Landry topped the points table with 45.
Against Australia in the semifinal, Canada led 14-7 at the half despite having little possession.
The Australia women dominated the early going but could not breach the Canadian defence until Evania Pelita broke through. But Greenshields scored on a sweeping run and then played provider, setting up Benn for Canada's second try.
The Olympic champions went ahead on second-half tries by Chloe Dalton and withstood a late charge by Canada, with Shani Williams cutting down Hannah Darling as the clock wound down.
The Canadians opened play Sunday by blanking Ireland 31-0 in the quarter-final.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand all went unbeaten on Day 1.
The Canadian Press
