England vs New Zealand LIVE: Final score, result and latest reaction as Red Roses run riot
Simon Middleton’s side overpowered the Black Ferns in a record-breaking victory to lay down a marker ahead of next week’s Test as the teams run it back
England ran riot to clinch a record victory over New Zealand in the first of two colossal Test matches between the sides.
Simon Harrison’s outfit thrived behind Zoe Harrison’s excellent disply as the No 1 ranked side in the world outclassed the world champions.
Tries from Abbie Ward (2), Ellie Kildunne, Lark Davies, Holly Aitchison, Abbie Dow and Harrison added to the Black Ferns’ misery.
Aitchison was filling in for the injured Emily Scarratt, making an impressive debut after starring at the Olympics in sevens.
“We’ve got them next week as well. We can’t get complacent. We need to look what we can do better for next week,” Harrison told BBC Sport.
“Today we were really looking at ourselves. Even in the Six Nations we’ve been looking towards the World Cup.”
While Emily Scarratt insists the victory will make next week’s contest even more intriguing: “Unbelievable. You could see that England really wanted to come out here and make a point. The Black Ferns were undercooked, it’s their first game back in a long time. It’s going to be a cracker next week.”
England 17-7 New Zealand, 52 minutes
England are denied again! Outstanding maul defence from New Zealand, first stymieing the initial drive and then getting bodies to the ball, preventing it from coming back as the maul falls shy of the white line. Scrum, New Zealand feed. Excellent from the Black Ferns’ pack shorn of their blindside flanker.
TRY? England think they have scored, but it looked like that was knocked on!
A meaty maul makes light work of New Zealand’s seven remaining forwards but it looked like Lark Davies lost control at the back.
The try is initally awarded but you’d expect Ben Whitehouse to chime in from the TMO truck.
Zoe Harrison places the bal on the tee and England’s backs make the long journey back to their own half in confidence, but here is Whitehouse’s input - NO TRY! Knocked on! The right call, but a penalty means England will go again at the lineout.
England 17-7 New Zealand, 50 minutes
The crowd lifts the noise as Abby Dow darts and Zoe Aldcroft makes yet more metres after a sharp inside ball from Abbie Ward.
Lagi Tuima dummies and bashes her way inside the New Zealand 22. A delicious dummy and plenty of power from the centre, and here goes Ward for the hat-trick...
The referee’s arm is raised! But it’s a penalty. And a yellow card! Alana Bremner fails to roll away and is sent for a ten minute sit-down, and England opt to head for the corner as they seek a fourth score.
England 17-7 New Zealand, 49 minutes
Another mishap at the set-piece from New Zealand, taking the lineout down but mis-transferring the ball back. England scrum feed.
England 17-7 New Zealand, 48 minutes
There is a renewed intensity to this contest now, with first Marlie Packer and then a great clutch of white shirts making their displeasure known to Kendra Cocksedge after New Zealand are awarded penalties on the edge of their own 22 and then halfway. Poppy Cleall comes bashing in to lend her support for her teammates - which draws Aimee Barrett-Theron to have a chat with England skipper Sarah Hunter.
TRY! England 17-7 NEW ZEALAND (Alana Bremner try, 45 minutes)
New Zealand hit back! They had to score early in this second period and they have.
Alana Bremner gets it, one of the stars of the Farah Palmer Cup over the last two years snaring herself a debut score, long-striding clear of the England defence after a kick from Chelsea Alley had spooned into her path. An inadvertent but effective set-up from the centre, and Kendra Cocksedge’s conversion from the outside of the right upright ensures it is a seven-pointer.
England 17-0 New Zealand, 44 minutes
Here goes Leti-I’iga, making metres down the left after a pass from captain Les Elder. Back in-field...
England 17-0 New Zealand, 43 minutes
What can the Black Ferns put together? Their best work so far has come with Ayesha Leti-I’iga on the carry but she is ignored as they play to the open side off the scrum. Twice forward carriers make half-bursts around the fringes, and advantage is coming as Hannah Botterman is caught with her hands in the cookie jar.
England 17-0 New Zealand, 41 minutes
England are again looking threatening to width as they launch their first attack of this second forty. Sarah Hunter’s hands are good as she pulls the ball back to Ellie Kildunne, but the full-back’s pass is a more abstract illustration, drifting forward from the fingers and knocked on by Lydia Thompson for good measure.
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