Ireland's women's 7s team placed fourth in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series after falling short against Australia in the bronze medal match in Hamilton.The Ireland men's 7s, meanwhile, finished sixth overall, having also been edged out by the Wallabies, in the fifth placed playoff.The women's side had earlier downed France in a superb quarter-final display, XVs star Beibhinn Parsons grabbing two tries, with Amee- Leigh Murphy and Megan Burns also scoring in an emphatic 24-7 win.However, New Zealand, the eventual winners, would prove far too strong in the last-four, running in six tries against Aiden McNulty's side in a 32-0 victory.Ireland subsequently lost out in the bronze medal game against Australia, though Beibhinn Parsons grabbed another brace of tries, Eve Higgins also crossing the whitewash in a 33-17 loss.The Ireland men's team had been pipped 10-5 by New Zealand in the quarter-final late last night, having initially gone ahead through Aaron O'Sullivan's opening minute try.Landed in the four-team fifth-place playoff, Ireland impressively overcame South Africa 21-14, Liam McNamara, Billy Dardis and Jordan Conroy all bagging tries.Again, Australia would hold the edge over Ireland in their final outing, James Topping's side losing out 26-17.
Jack Kelly's early try put Ireland in front before Henry Patterson and James Turner gave the Aussies the lead.Though Terry Kennedy and Conroy would get over for Ireland, Australia had enough to get home in fifth spot, Patterson again and Trae Williams notching tries.The men's competition was won by Argentina, who pipped the hosts New Zealand 14-12 in the decider.