WXV1: England’s Red Roses prove far too strong for New Zealand’s Black Ferns in Round 2 49-31 win Trending Global News

WXV1: England’s Red Roses make it two wins from two by beating New Zealand’s Black Ferns in British Columbia; England beat the United States in their first match, while world champions New Zealand have lost both games so far to Ireland and now England; England will face host Canada next Saturday

England’s Red Roses proved too strong for New Zealand’s Black Ferns in the WXV1 Round 2 clash in Canada, losing 49–31.

England responded from being 7–0 down early in the first half by scoring four tries before break throughs from Abby Dow (10), Jess Breach (19) and full-back Ellie Kildune (28, 40).

The Black Ferns scored an early try through Kaipo Olsen-Baker (6), and added a second through Aisha Leti-Eiga (35), but trailed 22–12 at half-time.

In the second period, Dow (45) and Breach (51) scored their second tries, either side of scrum-half Natasha Hunt (49) got on the scoresheet.

Georgia Ponsonby (55) and Maia Ross (66) scored tries for New Zealand, but John Mitchell’s England charges could not be denied as Breach ran in to score her hat-trick.

Red Roses replacement Zoe Harrison emerged in the closing stages to score her team’s ninth try, before New Zealand’s Mama Waipulu completed the Test scoring in the final game through a consolation.

Reigning WXV1 champions the Red Roses kicked off their 2024 campaign with an impressive 61-21 win over the United States in Vancouver with eight different try scorers.

Meanwhile, New Zealand were stunned by Ireland in their first match as the women in green caused an upset by defeating the world champions 29-27 in their opening WXV1 encounter.

England will face hosts Canada in their final match on Saturday 12 October, with Canada having registered comprehensive wins in two so far against France and Ireland.

Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into sky tvstreaming service Now And the Sky Sports app is giving Sky Sports customers access to live sport up to 50 per cent more at no extra cost this year. Learn more here.