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
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Your support makes all the difference.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 12-0 New Zealand, 30 minutes
Crikey, England are having some trouble putting Ayesha Leti-I’iga away. She’s off on a dangerous arc into the 13 channel, forcing Abby Dow off her with a fend and very nearly shaking free Ellie Kildunne, who just about hangs on.
New Zealand now carry with the forwards, but another crucial turnover ends their promising attack. More outstanding breakdown work from England. Marlie Packer had done brilliantly to dive in like a heron spying a vulnerable sprat at an under-resourced ruck. England survive and clear.
England 12-0 New Zealand, 28 minutes
Better from the Black Ferns, normally so good at the fundamentals but perhaps short of a degree of chemistry after so long without an international fixture. They win their lineout and then draw an England error, opting for the scrum just outside of the 22 after England haul down a maul that was beginning to get a trundling.
A penalty at the scrum and New Zealand will back their eight forwards once again - Kendra Cocksedge re-steadies herself to feed a second scrum.
England 12-0 New Zealand, 26 minutes
The Black Ferns advance with another penalty but lineout ball again goes awry. They’ll get a second shot, though, as Zoe Harrison gives her clearance plenty of welly but fails to recognise that the ball had been passed back into the 22, and as it tumbles down out of play inside the New Zealand half England will be marched all the way back for a Black Ferns throw....
Which they steal! Again! New Zealand’s darts are rather hitting treble one so far.
England 12-0 New Zealand, 24 minutes
A penalty to New Zealand, and Sarah Hunter is perplexed! England again try to set a maul and swiftly shift the point of emphasis, but are called for having players in front of the ball with the breakaway group deemed a separate entity rather than a part of the original rumbling mass. “You can’t restart it after it went down at the back,” says Aimee Barrett-Theron. A fair enough call from the South African referee.
England 12-0 New Zealand, 23 minutes
Also of concern will be the lineout - England steal a third in a row and Kendra Cocksedge then impetuously takes out opposite number Claudia MacDonald as the scrum-half dallies at the base of a ruck. Les Elder is called over by the referee for a word about her team’s discipline, and after Elder passes it down to her team, England return to the right corner...
England 12-0 New Zealand, 21 minutes
England are nearly in again! The ball is whisked from the top of a lineout and England create pleasant passing peaks, with Ellie Kildunne put into space on the right. She waits to put away Lydia Thompson, who needs only a sliver, as she’s showed against this opposition before, but the Worcester wing just about runs out of real estate, brushing the chalk of the touchline as she tries to out-kick Renee Holmes for the line. England very, very close to cutting New Zealand to ribbons again. The Black Ferns will be concerned about their wide defence.
England 12-0 New Zealand, 20 minutes
This is following a pattern that this fixture has established over the last few years, with England tending to start the stronger, and New Zealand often able to fight back later, but the Red Roses are really growing into this game. The outstanding Ward is hoisted high to steal a lineout despite a slightly crooked throw.
TRY! ENGLAND 12-0 New Zealand (Abbie Ward try, 18 minutes)
Poppy Cleall is stopped even closer, but Abbie Ward is over for her second! A close in carry with the one permitted latcher in tow, and the Bristol Bears lock, who has been on fire in the Premier 15s since making a summer move down the M4 from Harlequins to join her husband at Bristol, barges her way over.
Zoe Harrison finds better direction on this occasion from the left, with the helping, steadying hand of Holly Aitchison required as the wind begins to blow on the ball, and England are surging into a very useful lead.
England 5-0 New Zealand, 17 minutes
More very accomplished pahse play from England, askin different questions and able to make progress both out wide and in tighter confines.
And there goes Ellie Kildunne! Shaking a tackler to within five metres! Is she there? Not quite...
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