England’s women have taken over as the world’s top-ranked team following a convincing and fully deserved triumph over the Black Ferns. The Red Rose forwards laid the foundations of a famous win, England’s second
Rickey Henderson Jersey over their opponents on Kiwi soil, which bodes well for the forthcoming women’s World Cup to be held in Ireland in August. England’s haul of five tries on a damp, murky evening at the same venue as the Lions’ fixture against the Maori was a fitting reward for a dominant effort up front. Three of the scores were the product of rolling mauls to which the hosts had no real answer. At least one touring team has cracked the secret of winning a major Test match in New Zealand. It was the Red Roses who seized the early initiative with a well-taken try from the centre Emily Scarratt in the left corner with barely two minutes gone. The captain, Sarah Hunter, was a constant energising force from No8 and the home side found it hard throughout to establish any kind of territorial pressure. England’s depleted juniors scent another world title against New Zealand Read more Given the opportunity to attack from long range, however, the Black Ferns are frequently as deadly as their male counterparts. A gloriously skilful chip-and-chase score from their talented scrum-half Kendra Cocksedge levelled the scores before the pacy Portia Woodman intercepted an attempted pass from Scarratt to outsprint the retreating cover from 60 metres. Remarkably, New Zealand could not score any further points until the 78th minute as England took increasing control, thanks partly to their shrewd kicking game. Abbie Scott was duly credited with the first of England’s close-range tries but, with the scores level at 14-14 at half-time, it was a contest still awaiting a decisive intervention. A key moment arrived within three minutes of the restart when a well-worked lineout move resulted in Katy McLean putting Lydia Thompson over in the right
http://www.authenticsandiegopadres.com/Rollie-Fingers-Jersey corner. The all-action Marlie Packer soon claimed a fourth score before replacement Vicky Fleetwood touched down beneath a heap of bodies to record England’s fifth try. Advertisement New Zealand did claim a late consolation but could not prevent England securing their first victory in this fixture since 2012. A delighted Hunter revealed the forwards had talked before the game about emulating England’s men, who beat the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2003 before lifting the World Cup later that year. “We’re by no means the finished article but it does send a statement and we’ll take confidence from coming to such a tough place and winning,” she said. “Everyone did their job from numbers one to 23.” Hunter’s own performance drew particular praise from England’s head coach, Simon Middleton, whose side have also defeated Australia and Canada in this month’s international series as they prepare to defend their World Cup title. “She’s a fantastic captain and a fantastic player,” he said. “That’s why she’s world player of the year. We’re really happy and very proudScotland consigned the Wallabies to a humbling 24-19 Test defeat in Sydney in front of a stunned crowd of 30,721 fans at Allianz Stadium who watched the visitors avenge two heartbreaking one-point losses to Australia in the past two years with a stirring victory. Israel Folau’s second tryscoring double in as many weeks couldn’t save the Wallabies, as
http://www.authenticmilwaukeebrewers.com/Orlando-Arcia-Jersey Scotland confirmed their status as world rugby’s big improvers. Up to fifth in the rankings, the Scots cashed in on a disjointed display from Michael Cheika’s men. Lightning crowned Super Netball champions, Wallabies fall to Scotland – as it happened Rolling report: the Lightning beat the Giants to win the Super Netball title after the Wallabies disappointed and the Swans pulled off a miracle Read more As playmaker Bernard Foley admitted, the Wallabies were their own worst enemies during a dreadful first half. They trailed 17-12 at the break, gifting the Scots all of their points through an early penalty goal, then an intercept try to centre Duncan Taylor and a charge-down effort from goalkicking five-eighth Finn Russell. Only Folau’s two strikes kept the Wallabies in the contest. Foley set both of them up for his NSW Waratahs team-mate either side of a stint in the sin bin for a late hit on Russell when Scotland’s inspirational No10 broke free with some innovative counter-attack from his own quarter. First, Foley found Folau with a long ball in one of the Wallabies’ rare forays deep in Scotland territory. Then, on the stroke of half-time, Folau soared high above Scotland’s Gordon Reid to reel in Foley’s pinpoint crossfield kick to give the Wallabies momentum heading into the second section. But despite being a man down with No8 Ryan Wilson yellow-carded a minute before half-time, the Scots refused to yield until Australia briefly snatched the lead in the 57th minute. Foley’s successful conversion of a desperate dive-over try from Will Genia earned the Wallabies a 19-17 advantage. But, a 50-metre try three minutes later to flanker Hamish Watson restored the visitors’ five-point lead and, despite several opportunities, the Wallabies were unable to find a reply to give Foley another chance to break Scottish hearts. Last-gasp
Paul Molitor Womens Jersey penalty goals from Foley had denied the Scots at the 2015 Rugby World Cup at Twickenham and again on the Wallabies’ spring tour last November
