New Zealand will face Australia in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup final for the fourth tournament in succession after the Kiwi Ferns fought off a stubborn England challenge to win 20-6 in Monday night’s second semi-final.
Ricky Henry’s side overcame an early six-point deficit to set a monumental platform with their massive metre-makers through the middle, with tries from Mele Hufanga, Raecene McGregor, Otesa Pule and Brianna Clark seeing them beyond the hosts.
For England it is further semi-final heartache, having lost to the same Ferns in the 2013 and 2017 semi-finals, and this coming just two days after the England men’s side lost their last-four clash with Samoa in golden-point extra-time.
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The opening exchanges suggested that they may follow the wheelchair side’s lead by reaching next Saturday’s final.
After Apii Nicholls had failed to deal with Georgia Roche’s kick from deep, England were able to set up an attack from a scrum in New Zealand territory. And when they put on a set move to the right, they found Fran Goldthorp in acres of space to go over for the opening score of the game.
As the game settled into a pattern, the Kiwi Ferns were making serious yardage with ball in hand and they were able to make that pay when Mele Hufanga took Amber Hall’s pass to crash over. While Brianna Clark missed the kick, New Zealand were soon ahead when Raecene McGregor nudged her way over the line for another unconverted try.
Seven minutes into the second half the three-time World Cup winners had a two-score advantage, Otesa Pule making the most of broken space after Hufanga’s initial run and a great pass out of the tackle by Nicholls.
And when England failed to capitalise on the Kiwi Ferns allowing the ball to run out of play from the resulting kick-off, New Zealand set up an 80-metre set which resulted in Brianna Clark breaking through a space between two defenders to score under the sticks.
With each half-chance Craig Richards’ side failed to make, the likelihood of a comeback became more and more remote, with New Zealand’s stern defence – which had shipped only three tries and a total of 14 points in Group B – again proving tough to breach.
The full-time hooter brought scenes of jubilation for the Ferns, who now head to Old Trafford for the women’s final on Saturday at 1:30pm against Australia. That match will be followed by the men’s showpiece at 4pm between Australia and first-time finalists Samoa.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
