FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

The second placed Kiwi Ferns took on bottom team Cook Islands in the first match of a Group B double header in the women’s World Cup at York’s LNER Community Stadium.

The Kukis lost 74-0 to Australia last time out, which made New Zealand the clear favourites in this encounter that saw Cooks players Karaitiana and Terehia Matua  both named to line up against their aunt Krystal Rota, who captained the Ferns.

The Kukis took to the field knowing they had never beaten the Ferns, the four-time World Cup champions.

The game got off to a fiery start with with a stoppage in the second minute as Cooks player Kimiora Breayley-Nati was left flat out and had to leave the field following a misjudged tackle.

The Kukis responded with a determined period of play, tackling and advancing the ball with determination and forcing errors in the  New Zealand team.

But despite that  Dally M medallist Raecene McGregor opened the scoring after 10 minutes when she chose an unstoppable line and ran through to score the match’s first try. Laishon Albert-Jones couldn’t kick the conversion and the score stood at 4-0.

Kiwi captain Krystal Rota added four more points after quarter of an hour, bursting through from first receiver on theft and dotting down in the corner. Again, the try couldn’t be converted and the the Ferns led 8-0.

As the pre-match rain returned in force to add another difficulty for handling, as New Zealand discovered with an attempted offload in the Kuki 20.

But the Ferns were dominating with the game played largely in the Cook Island half. The Kiwis continued to press in the Cooks’  half and when Amber Hall ran onto a pass 10m out, the next Ferns try was inevitable, moving the score to 12-0 with half an hour gone.

Kicking duties moved to Brianna Clark who made no mistake from just to the right of the posts and took the score to 14-0.

But the Cooks hit back and threatened to notch up their first ever score against the Ferns with a dangerous set in their opponents’ 10m zone. Unfortunately, it came to nothing, and New Zealand pressed again, moving the ball out to the powerful Male Hufanga, who was stopped just short of the line.

The Cooks defence held for the rest of the half, though and the hooter blew on the 14-0 scoreline, after a balanced half in terms of tackles, play-the-balls and sets, if not of points on the board.

When the match restarted, Cook Islands pressed the Kiwi line on the back of a penalty for dissent - but again, couldn’t convert the pressure into points. The loss of their co-captain and stand-off at the start of the game was telling on their organisation.

The Cooks got another chance when New Zealand full back Shanice Parker knocked on collecting a high kick - but once more couldn’t get the points, losing the ball as they tried to crash over early in the  set.

Both teams had played almost  15 minutes without a point being scored before  Raecene McGregor crashed over from dummy half. Albert-Jones returned to kicking dutiies but once again, failed to add the extras.

The Ferns surged forward  through Raecene McGregor again on the next set, but dropped the ball themselves, when Albert-Jones couldn’t take in a pass on the left. But the pressure did pay off as the 60-minute mark came up Hufanga running clear in the corner for a 22-0 lead. Albert-Jones conversion attempt fell short.

To add to the Kukis woes, the Ferns raced away from a quick tap after a kick went dead, and when Maleyna Hunapo lay in the tackle too long as her team-mates struggled to get back onside and was sent for a 10-minute rest in the bin.

But then … the short-handed Cook Island charged forward on the next set, Kerehitina Matua found herself being forced wide as she ran the ball toward the Kiwi line and kicked ahead. Mackenzie Wiki – daughter of Ruben – raced in to dot it down in the corner and the Cooks had scored their first points ever against New Zealand. Matua lined up to kick from the touchline, but had the same problems as New Zealand. The score stayed at 22-4.

The Ferns hit back, powering up on the right and getting the ball to Hufanga for her to score her second try on debut. Clark was back kicking and the successful conversion meant the Kiwis led 28-4.

In the final minutes New Zealand stepped up and increased the pressure on the Kukis’ line, with repeat sets and a tapped penalty for a head-high tackle on Raecene McGregor leading to a try by Annetta Nu’uausala in the final minute. Clark’s conversion after the hooter gave a final score of 34-4.

New Zealand Ferns: Parker; Hufanga (2T), Ormong-Maunsell, P McGregor, Bartlett; Albert-Jones, R McGregor (2T); Hill-Moana, Rota (T), Nu’uausala (T) Pule, Hall (T), Scanlan. Subs: Maynard, Clark (3G), Tamarua, Stowers.

Cook Islands: Tuaana; Tatuava, Tumu-Makara, Rongokea, Wiki (T); Reayley-Nati, K Matua; Tanavesi, Stephens, Mgatupuna, Kitai, Tupou-Witchman, Walton. Subs: Mo’ale, Harrison-Vahua, Matua, Hunapo (Y63)

Full Time: 34-4

Half Time: 14-0

Score Progression: 4-0, 8-0, 12-0, 14-0. HT. 18-0, 22-0, 22-4, 26-4, 28-4, 32-4, 34-4. FT.

Lead: New Zealand.

Referree: Michael Smaill

Attendance: ? at the LNER Stadium, York.

 



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by tb on Sun 6th Nov 2022 7:04 PM | Views : 17080 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
7m
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
boardwalkemp
136
40m
New Super League shirts in time for Christmas
Deadcowboys1
115
45m
Game - Song Titles
Boss Hog
34290
50m
York - 14th April
Spookisback
10
51m
BORED The Band Name Game
Boss Hog
56011
51m
Other Championship Clubs
FOREVERTRIN
98
52m
Wigan v Sts discussion - THIS THREAD ONLY PLEASE
RobRiches
1934
54m
Rd 6 I Cas A
Sir Gregory
107
59m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Dave K.
357
Recent
Fevround 2
Trojan Horse
91
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
4m
Ky Rodwell
Trojan Horse
107
4m
Fevround 2
Trojan Horse
91
5m
Other Championship Clubs
FOREVERTRIN
98
5m
Championship TV deal
Trojan Horse
18
5m
Challenge Cup
stpatricks
37
6m
Smith - should he stay or should he go
Dave K.
357
6m
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
6m
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
7m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
9m
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
Spookisback
10
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
WWste
23
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
87
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
530
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
654
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
569
Warrington Demolish London For..
678
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
721
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
701
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
949
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
919
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1062
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1036
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1100
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1077
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3855
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1196
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist