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Australia tops Fiji in thriller to win Hong Kong Sevens

  • Australia's players celebrate after winning the quarterfinals match against Ireland in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    Australia's players celebrate after winning the quarterfinals match against Ireland in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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  • Ireland's Harry McNulty, top left, tries to catch a ball during the quarterfinals match against Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    Ireland's Harry McNulty, top left, tries to catch a ball during the quarterfinals match against Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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  • South Africa's JC Pretorius is tackled by Fiji's Jeremaia Matana during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    South Africa's JC Pretorius is tackled by Fiji's Jeremaia Matana during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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  • Samoa's Vaovasa Afa Su'a, left, is tackled by Argentina's Matías Osadczuk during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    Samoa's Vaovasa Afa Su'a, left, is tackled by Argentina's Matías Osadczuk during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Samoa's Owen Niue, right, makes a break against Argentina's Marcos Moneta during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    Samoa's Owen Niue, right, makes a break against Argentina's Marcos Moneta during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Britain's Alec Coombes runs to make a try from Japan's Takamasa Maruo during the third day of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament has started for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
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    Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

    Britain's Alec Coombes runs to make a try from Japan's Takamasa Maruo during the third day of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament has started for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
Australia's players celebrate after winning the quarterfinals match against Ireland in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
Ireland's Harry McNulty, top left, tries to catch a ball during the quarterfinals match against Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
South Africa's JC Pretorius is tackled by Fiji's Jeremaia Matana during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
Samoa's Vaovasa Afa Su'a, left, is tackled by Argentina's Matías Osadczuk during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
Samoa's Owen Niue, right, makes a break against Argentina's Marcos Moneta during the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament is being played for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
Britain's Alec Coombes runs to make a try from Japan's Takamasa Maruo during the third day of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in Hong Kong, Sunday Nov. 6, 2022. The Hong Kong tournament has started for the first time in three years after being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first of 11 tournaments on the 2022-23 World Series. (AP Photo/Anthony Kwan)
Associated Press
·2-min read

HONG KONG (AP) — Australia beat Fiji 20-17 to win the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens on Sunday, denying the Fijians a sixth consecutive title.

Fiji started the stronger side, jumping out to an early 12-0 lead through Josua Vakurunabili and Waisea Nacuqu, and appeared assured of building on its 36-game winning streak in Hong Kong.

But Henry Hutchison replied for Australia to reduce the deficit to 12-5 at the break. The second half started with another Australia score courtesy of Tim Clements before Nacuqu replied for Fiji to extend the gap once again.

But a yellow card to Fiji's Joseva Talacolo appeared to swing the match in Australia's favor with Hutchison touching down a short time later to close the gap to 17-15.

Nathan Lawson completed the comeback after sprinting down the left flank to touch down at the corner flag in the dying seconds to secure gold in a thrilling final.

Earlier, France beat Samoa 19-17 in the Bronze final and Argentina shut out the U.S. 36-0 in the Plate final.

After an unbeaten record in pool play, Fiji beat South Africa 12-7 in a quarterfinal and Samoa 19-7 in a bruising all-Pacific semifinal to reach the final for the seventh time in eight editions of the oldest tournament in the World Series.

Australia, meanwhile, won both its quarterfinal and semifinal after fulltime, relying on Maurice Longbottom for the winning score in both matches.

Longbottom scored the match-winning try after the fulltime siren in Australia’s 26-19 quarterfinal win over Ireland, then kicked a penalty in extra-time to give Australia a thrilling 8-7 win over France in its semifinal.

Fiji was impressive in its semifinal win over previously-unbeaten Samoa but ended up falling just short to an inspired Australia squad playing in its first Hong Kong final since 1994.

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