Caslick breaks try-scoring record as Australia claim fifth

Sun, Jan 29, 2023, 7:36 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Sydney Sevens Tournament Breakdown

Australia has finished Sydney on a strong note with a 36-12 win over Fiji.

Charlotte Caslick starred with a double, becoming the all-time leading try scorer for an Australian on the World Series with 143 tries.

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It wasn’t all the Australians' way in the match, with Fiji taking a quick 12-7 lead after four minutes.

This is where the defending Player of the Year kicked into gear.

Caslick grubbered the ball through and looked set to score before the ball just hit the corner post and went out.

A minute later, the 27-year-old darted down the short side and raced away to break the record set by Ellia Green with no 142.

She moved into fifth on the all-time list alongside Ghislaine Landry with try 143 to put the game well and truly out of reach.

“I’ve been playing for so long that I guess over time I’ve collected a few points,’” Caslick said with a smile.

“I’m a ball player so I don’t really think about scoring the tries so I guess it just shows how long I’ve been playing for.”

Walsh took the chance to experiment with his line-up and it paid off when Teagan Levi set up sister Maddi for the opener before Fijian’s resurgence.

With Caslick putting the Aussies on level terms at the break, a yellow card to Talei Wilson opened the game up for the Australians.

Faith Nathan used her pace to get on the outside of the defence to score, followed minutes later by Caslick and a wondering chip-and-chase from Teagan Levi.

Lily Dick’s powerful effort at the end of the game sealed a comprehensive win for the hosts, looking to put yesterday’s defeat behind them.

“It was a good way to finish,” Caslick added.

“Obviously we were disappointed with yesterday and we haven’t really respected the ball that much this tournament so that was a good showing against a really strong Fiji side.

“They had a lot of fans here as well so it was really fun also to play in front of them and the Australians.”

Australia 36 (TRIES: Caslick 2, Dick, M. Levi, T. Levi, Nathan; CONS: Hinds 2, du Toit) def Fiji 12 (TRIES: Bese, Nabura; CONS: Naimasi)

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