The Black Ferns Sevens have a clean sheet after day one of the Las Vegas Sevens.
Led by four tries each by Michaela Blyde and Portia Woodman in their three Pool C games, New Zealand emerged at the top of the so-called 'Pool of Death' and their reward is a Cup quarter-final tomorrow morning (6.50am NZT) against Russia, who were runners-up in Pool A, though they lost 34-7 to Canada.
After blanking Brazil 24-0 following a Blyde double, New Zealand dispatched England 27-5 with five tries. England, not quite the force they are in women's 15s, again missed the Cup rounds.
In their final pool game, New Zealand led 14-7 at the break against nemesis Australia after two early Woodman tries. Australia drew level at 14-all, before Blyde's fourth try of the day sealed the victory.
"Outstanding," was coach Allan Bunting's summation of day one. "It doesn't matter who I put on, they put their whole heart out there. I can trust anyone."
