Black Ferns Beat Australia To Retain OReilly Cup

The Black Ferns have beaten Australia 43-3 in Hamilton on Saturday to retain the Laurie O'Reilly cup.

The Black Ferns scored seven tries in total, and led 31-0 at halftime, with a more determined Australia limiting the score in the second half. After holding the Black Ferns scoreless for the first 30 minutes in the second half, the red carding of Australian Bridie O'Gorman, saw the Black Ferns run in two further tries.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 43

Tries: Katelyn Vahaakolo 2, Krystal Murray, Patricia Maliepo, Sylvia Brunt, Lucy Jenkins, Martha Mataele, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 4

Australia Wallaroos: 3

Penalty: Carys Dallinger

Blacks Ferns Defeat USA With 14 Players

The Black Ferns have rebounded to beat USA 39-17 after the early shock of having halfback Iritana Hohaia sent off in the second minute after an accidental head clash. The Black Ferns trailed 17-5 at half time after also having Liana Mikaele-Tu’u sin-binned late in the half and dropping back to 13 players. The second half saw a few replacement players added to the Black Ferns, with five tries scored amid a stronger defensive effort.

Black Ferns: 39 

Tries: Grace Gago, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Pip Love, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Ruahei Demant, Amy du Plessis, Conversions: Renée Holmes 3, Conversion: Holmes 

USA: 17 

Tries: Paluvava’u Freda Tafuna, Rachel Johnson, Conversions: McKenzie Hawkins 2, Penalty: Hawkins

Black Ferns Win Rugby World Cup

The New Zealand Black Ferns have beaten England 34-31 to win their sixth Rugby World Cup in Auckland on Saturday night. The Black Ferns scored six tries to five, but trailed for much of the match, having to come back from two tries down in the early part of the match. England had played three quarters of the match with only 14 after winger Lydia Thompson was red carded after a head clash with Portia Woodman in a tackle, that also saw Woodman leave the field. The Black Ferns had struggled to combat the England rolling mall, with four of their five tries coming from it, but had stayed in touch for most of the match. The Black Ferns had hit the front with nine minutes remaining with a try to Ayesha Leti-I'iga, but were forced to defend the final minute of the match with a lineout near their own line, with Joanah Ngan-Woo’s lineout steal sealing the game.

New Zeland Black Ferns: 34 

Tries: Ayesha Leti-l'iga 2, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Stacey Fluhler, Krystal Murray, Conversions: Renee Holmes 2

England: 31 

Tries: Amy Cokayne 3, Ellie Kildunne, Marlie Packer, Conversions: Emily Scarratt 3

Black Ferns Win Opening Rugby World Cup Match

The All Black Ferns have won their opening match of the Women's Rugby World Cup over Australia 41-17 in Auckland on Saturday night.

The Black Ferns got off to a slow start, dropping the ball from the opening kick-off, and conceding early penalties. They trailed 17-0 after 28 minutes after two tries to wing Bienne Terita and a further to Ivania Wong, but by half time had pulled it back to 17-12 after tries to lock Joanah Ngan-Woo and Portia Woodman.

The second half saw the Black Ferns level the match with Woodman's second try in the 47th minutes, but then Australia suffered a double blow. Winger Ivania Wong was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, and captain Shannon Parry also off soon after a shoulder to head contact in a tackle. Black Ferns replacement prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohulock then scored with Woodman following with her hat-trick and Ruby Tui also getting a double.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 41 

Tries: Portia Woodman 3, Ruby Tui 2, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Conversions: Renee Holmes 2, Kendra Cocksedge

Australia Wallaroos: 17 

Tries: Bienne Terita 2, Ivania Wong, Conversion: Arabella McKenzie

Black Ferns Win Second Match Against Australia

The New Zealand Black Ferns have beaten the Australian Wallaroo's in Adelaide 22-14. It was a different match to the last start 52-5 win in Christchurch, with the Australians scoring the first try, and their defense forcing multiple errors from the Black Ferns. Playing into the wind in the first half, the Black Ferns kept in in close with the forwards, but struggled with the combative nature from the Australians, and it was on defense that the they went down to 14 players when Chelsea Semple left the field after a head clash in a tackle saw her sin-binned. The Black Ferns recovered to lead 10-7 at half time, but half much to work on before the Rugby World Cup.

The Black Ferns have confirmed they will play a pre-tournament test against Japan at Eden Park on September, in what will be a double header with the All Black v Australia match.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 22 

Tries: Luka Connor, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Kendra Reynolds, Conversions: Ruahei Demant 2, Penalty: Demant

Australia: 14 

Tries: Bienne Terita 2, Conversions: Arabella McKenzie 2

Black Ferns Win Over Australia

The New Zealand Black Ferns have beaten the Australian Wallaroos 52-5 in the opening game of the Laurie O'Reilly Cup series at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday night.

The Black Ferns led 26-0 after 31 minutes, and at halftime after early handling errors were righted with forward oriented play before getting the ball wide. The second half was a continuation, although errors again crept into their game. The return match is next Saturday at Adelaide Oval, with the countdown to the Rugby World Cup only seven weeks away.

New Zealand Black Ferns: 52 

Tries: Ruahei Demant 2, Ayesha Leti-I’iga 2, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Amy du Plessis, Kendra Cocksedge, Luka Conno, Conversions: Cocksedge 3, Renee Holmes 3 

Australia: 5 

Try: Piper Duck

Black Ferns Win Pacific Four Series

The Black Ferns have beaten the USA Eagles 50-6 in Whangarei on Saturday to win the Pacific Four Series. In a match played in wet conditions, the Black Ferns scored eight tries, with wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga scoring a hat-trick.  

In the earlier match Canada had beaten the Australian Wallaroo's 22-10

New Zealand Black Ferns: 50 

Tries: Ayesha Leti-I’iga 3, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Renee Holmes, Sylvia Brunt, Kendra Reynolds, Renee Wickliffe, Conversions: Hazel Tubic 3, Ruahei Demant, Renee Holmes 

USA Eagles: 6

Penalties: Megan Foster 2