Glasgow: Same old story. New Zealand's irrepressible Rugby Sevens team has notched up its 30th consecutive victory in Commonwealth Games competition, tipping Australia out of gold medal contention with a 19-7 win at a pulsating Ibrox Stadium.
Two late tries to Scott Curry were the difference after the Australians harboured some hope at the break, with scores locked at 7-7.
The Kiwis were given a minor fright earlier in the day when they had to rally late against the Kenyans, while Australia produced a stirring comeback to beat Wales 21-19 and set up a grudge match with their great rugby rivals.
But it was the champions that regrouped the better. The Kiwis didn't take long to strike, scoring under the sticks after just 50 seconds through Tim Mikkelson, who found a yawning gap after good lead up from Sherwin Stowers to move ahead 7-0.
The men in black dominated early possession and even when Australia had the chance to mount pressure, they produced mistakes at the line out to gift more ball to the four-time gold medalists.
But Sean McMahon, the physical Melbourne Rebels flanker, put the Australians back in the picture on the stroke of halftime, with his try sending it to the break with the teams at 7-7.
Parahi almost came up with a key error at the start of the second half, failing to pounce on a ball only to see if roll dead just in time to beat the chase of Mikkelson. But the assault wasn't held off for long, with Scott Curry putting the Kiwis ahead 14-7 with three minutes left on the clock.
Curry finished off the Australians in the dying seconds, giving New Zealand a 19-7 win and passage through to another Commonwealth Games final.
