Team GB get their women's rugby sevens campaign with a win

Team GB get their women’s rugby sevens campaign off to the perfect start with a last-gasp 14-12 win over the Russian Olympic Committee

Abigail Brown scored both of Team GB’s tries in their opening win over the ROC
Holly Aitchison scored the matchwining conversion to give Team GB victory
They face New Zealand later on Thursday in their second Pool A fixture
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Great Britain scraped past the Russian Olympic Committee to see their women’s rugby sevens bid begin with a victory.

Team GB edged past their European counterparts 14-12 in a tense Pool A encounter that went right down to the wire.

Holly Aitchison was Team GB’s matchwinner as her conversion from an Abigail Brown saw the Brits clinch an unlikely-looking triumph at the death.

Abigail Brown dives over to score one of her two tries in Team GB’s rugby sevens win vs ROC

Holly Aitchison (right) kicked both conversions as Team GB edged past ROC 14-12 in Pool A

Co-captain Brown also scored in the first half, while Aitchison converted both tries.

Great Britain are in Pool A of the competition, with their next game coming later on Thursday against New Zealand.

Reflecting on the performance, Brown said: ‘It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t pretty, but we stayed in the fight and showed a lot of heart and desire.

‘New Zealand are a different team. We face them a lot as England, but not as Great Britain.

‘It’s really going to be about how we can break down that New Zealand defence. They are a feisty team, we know that.’

Helena Rowland (right) looks to escape the clutches of a ROC player during the Pool A clash