Rugby World Cup: England 32 New Zealand 41
England players stand dejected after losing the women's Rugby World Cup Final at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (pic Brian Lawless/PA) - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
There was to be no fairytale finish for Saracens Vicky Fleetwood as England lost their World Cup final meeting with the Black Ferns in Belfast.
Saracens Vicky Fleetwood (16) is comforted by fans after England's loss to New Zealand in the women's Rugby World Cup final in Belfast (pic Justin Kernoghan/PA) - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Selica Winiata’s try after eight minutes gave the Black Ferns the lead but defending champions England were on the scoreboard through Emily Scarratt’s penalty.
And after Black Ferns flanker Sarah Goss was sent to the sin bin for her tackle on Katy Mclean, England took full advantage from a five-metre scrum when the referee awarded a penalty try.
A Rachael Burford break eventually set up Lydia Thompson who finished out wide, but Toka Natua’s score for the Kiwis meant a 17-10 half-time lead for the Red Roses.
Natua’s second try levelled the game up before another Scarratt penalty edged England ahead, but Charmaine Smith’s try pushed the Black Ferns in front again.
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Thompson’s stunning second score, when she raced in down the right touchline, restored England’s lead but the New Zealand prop Natua got her hat-trick, and then Kendra Cocksedge and a second from Winiata secured the win and a fifth title, despite Izzy Noel-Smith’s late score for the Red Roses.
England head coach Simon Middleton said: “I couldn’t be prouder as the girls gave everything they could. There was no shortage of heart, energy and passion.
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“We just couldn’t get enough possession in the second half to be able to turn the game how we wanted.
“We’ve had a fantastic year with the things we achieved, we pulled up short but we’ve been everywhere and played everyone and until tonight we’ve been successful.
“I thought it was an amazing occasion for the game with the energy in the stadium and it was fantastic game for the spectators to watch.”
England captain Sarah Hunter added: “The scoreline suggests a fantastic game of rugby. I’m not sure a Women’s Rugby World Cup final has seen a score like that before.
“We came here with one goal and we have just pulled up a little bit short and fair play to New Zealand they really took it to us.
“Rugby is a really hard game to play without the ball and in that second half we did not have the ball; that was partly our fault and partly the pressure they put on us.
“Gutted is an understatement but we will move on from this. The support back home has been phenomenal and I can’t thank people enough.”
England: 15. Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 74 caps); 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 38 caps); 13. Megan Jones (Bristol, 9 caps); 12. Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies, 72 caps); 11. Kay Wilson (Richmond, 49 caps); 10. Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 91 caps); 9. Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 41 caps); 1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies, 31 caps); 2. Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 33 caps); 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol, 15 caps); 4. Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 21 caps); 5. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 109 caps); 6. Alex Matthews (Richmond, 37 caps); 7. Marlie Packer (Bristol, 51 caps); 8. Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 98 caps). Replacements: 16. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 65 caps); 17. Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 129 caps); 18. Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 27 caps); 19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 51 caps); 20. Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 36 caps); 21. La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 70 caps); 22. Amber Reed (Bristol, 44 caps); 23. Amy Wilson Hardy (Bristol, 10 caps).
