Scotland Women 7s star Johnston reaches final with GB squad

Scotland Women 7s player Stephanie Johnston featured in the GB Select Women Seven’s team, which made it to the final of the Las Vegas Elite Women’s Invitational on Sunday.Team GB rattled through the heats to land a place in the final at Sam Boyd Stadium, but went down 7-12 to a tough French side.Johnston said: Las Vegas was a great experience. As a team, I feel we had the chance to bond both on and off pitch. We played a variety of teams ranging from invitational to national development sides and full national squads.After performing well in the pool stages we moved into the quarters against a strong invitational side. We then came up against the Canadian Maple leafs, who are Canada’s development side, in the semi-final in the main stadium on Sunday. After being 12-0 down at half time, we managed to come back and scrape the win. The final was against a strong French development side unfortunately, we lost out on the final whistle.We learnt a lot from this tournament and most of the players will travel to Vancouver next week, where we will have the chance to hopefully put right some wrongs and continue building as a squad.Johnston played alongside nine England and two Wales players in Las Vegas.She joined the squad to train full-time last year for the chance to be selected to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Head Coach Simon Middleton said: I am really pleased with the performance of the squad this week.  It’s been a high-quality invitational tournament. The squad have put in some strong performances and grown throughout the competition. It’s always disappointing to lose but our goal was to make the finals on Sunday in the stadium and that’s what we did.”The character of the group was highlighted in the semi-final coming back from 0-12 down at half time to win with the last play. We pulled up just a bit short in the final against a very strong French outfit but there’s no shame in that.”We are all looking forward to regrouping and going again in Vancouver next week when I’m hoping to see the group continue to grow as a unit.The squad will now fly to Vancouver where many of the same sides reconvene to contest the Vancouver Invitational tournament on March 10 and 11. GB Select have drawn USA Falcons, France Sevens, and Maple Leads Red in the opening pools. Middleton has made one change to the squad in Vancouver, replacing Heather Fisher for Amy Wilson Hardy.For the full Las Vegas tournament results, click here.GB squad for Las VegasAbbie Brown, Rachael Burford (captain), Heather Fisher, Laurie Harries, Stephanie Johnston, Jasmine Joyce, Alex Matthews, Fran Matthews, Katy Mclean, Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman, Kay WilsonGB squad for VancouverAbbie Brown, Rachael Burford (captain), Laurie Harries, Stephanie Johnston, Jasmine Joyce, Alex Matthews, Fran Matthews, Katy Mclean, Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman, Kay Wilson, Amy Wilson Hardy.