11 Aug 2016

More disappointment for NZ on busy day five

1:21 pm on 11 August 2016

There has been more disappointment for New Zealand's athletes as the men's sevens side crashed out of medal contention in the Olympic tournament.

Sione Molia after the defeat in the men’s rugby sevens quarter-final.

Sione Molia after the defeat by Fiji in the quarter-final put the team out of medal contention. Photo: AFP

Their play-off chances appeared to be all but gone after a 21-19 loss to Great Britain this morning, but other results went their way and they qualified for the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams.

However a well-marshalled Fiji team came up trumps 12-7 to continue a disappointing campaign.

Look back at how the match unfolded.

Coach Sir Gordon Tietjens said it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"It's certainly sad to be put out of the tournament - the most important tournament for us for four years and going to the Olympics for the first time ever - it's devastating," he said.

"I feel for the players but it wasn't to be. We just weren't good enough."

There were mixed results on the water as sailors Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie made a good start to the defence of their 470 Olympic title and finished the day in second, but a late protest decision saw them fall to 10th.

Sailors Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie take part in the Olympic Games in Rio.

Sailors Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie take part in the Olympic Games in Rio. Photo: AFP

Their male counterparts, Paul Snow-Hansen and Daniel Willcox, are third overall after a second and a tenth placed finish in today's races.

Snow-Hansen said he had trained in Rio for years and never seen the conditions so wet and wild.

"You had to have your eyes out the boat, there were crazy rain showers coming through the course - a few snakes and ladders - so we took a bit of a hit now and then, but also gained so we'll take that for the first day," he said.

Meanwhile, Sam Meech slipped to seventh in the Laser, while the Nacra 17 crew of Gemma Jones and Jason Saunders are now 13th overall.

Elsewhere, the paddler Mike Dawson delivered a terrific performance in the semi-final of the canoe slalom, but recorded the worst time in the final to finish 10th.

Mike Dawson competes in the canoe slalom at the Olympic Games.

Mike Dawson competes in the canoe slalom at the Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

The women's hockey team beat Spain 2-1 thanks to two goals from Kelsey Smith to solidify their chances of making the knockout stages.

Their remaining pool matches are against world number one the Netherlands and China.

The men's hockey team thrashed Brazil 9-0 to keep their hopes of making the quarter-finals alive.

They now have two losses, a draw and a win from their first four games, and will likely need to win their final game against group leaders Belgium to reach the quarter-finals.

The cyclist Linda Villumsen missed out on a medal in the women's individual time trial.

The Danish-born rider battled wet conditions out on the road, placing sixth, 28 seconds off the pace and said fatigue was a factor.

Linda Villumsen made it to gold with 6s to spare.

Linda Villumsen competes. Photo: AFP

"It was very hard today. The roads on the downhills were very slick. I didn't want to take chances, and that cost me some time," she said.

"Maybe my legs were tired from the road race. I didn't feel like I had good legs today."

The Manawatu equestrian Julie Brougham has missed out on qualifying for the final of the dressage competition.

Swimmers Corey Main and Bradlee Ashby made the semi-finals of the 200m backstroke and 200m medley respectively.

Strong winds again forced the organisers to call off another day's rowing but they remain confident the regatta can be completed on time.

- RNZ

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