Black Ferns Sevens have advanced into their world series final at Vancouver with a hardfought 15-7 victory Canada in the semi-finals.
The NZ women struck quickly, turning over the ball in a tackle and sending speedster Michael Blyde over in the left corner for the opening try.
Moments later, Blyde doubled down, popping up on the right side and fending off the last defender for her second try.
Canada struck back after the halftime siren, when Tenika Willison was held up centimetres from their goal-line and Krissy Scurfield broke the length of the field to close within 10-7 at the break.
From the restart, the Kiwis retained possession and Jorja Miller sliced through the Canadian defensive line, before veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe loomed for the try. None were converted, leaving the door ajar for the hosts.
New Zealand let their rivals back into the game, when their confusion saw them forced back deep into their own half, but Piper Logan was driven into touch in goal by Manaia Nuku to relieve the threat.
As the final siren sounded, Woodman-Wickliffe kicked to touch, as the reigning series champions and Vancouver winners last year progressed to their first final since Dubai in December, when they lost to Australia.
The Black Ferns Sevens will face France in the final, after they defeated Australia 21-19 in a gutbusting semi-final, with Dominique du Toit missing a difficult conversion that would have levelled scores in the dying seconds.
Meanwhile, the NZ men also booked a spot in their final with a 28-26 win over France.
Cody Vai opened the scoring with a try for New Zealand, but the French countered through Joseph Jefferson Lee.
Akuila Rokolisoa sliced through under the crossbar to extend the Kiwis' lead, but after the halftime siren, Jordan Sepho brought France within 14-12 at the break.
After the restart, Rokolisoa burnt the defence again to score between the posts, before Scott Curry finally gave the All Blacks Sevens some breathing room with a try in the corner, converted by Rokolisoa from the sideline.
French 15s halfback Antoine Dupont came on as a replacement and created a try, when he ripped the ball free in a tackle and sent Ryan Rebbadj the length of the field, before Jefferson Lee secured a try double after the final siren.
New Zealand will face series leaders Argentina in the men's final.
Black Ferns Sevens 15 (Blyde 2 & Woodman-Wickliffe tries) Canada 7 (Scurfield try; Daniels conversion)
All Blacks Sevens 28 (Rokolisoa 2, Vai & Curry tries; Rokolisoa 3 & Cook Savage conversions) France 26 (Jefferson Lee 2, Sepho & Rebbadj tries; Rebbadj 2 & Forner conversions)
