England 26 – 19 New Zealand: Last-minute try extends Red Roses’ unbeaten record
Zoe Harrison’s last-minute converted try gave England a dramatic victory over New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium and extended the Red Roses’ unbeaten run to 41 games.
Harrison’s touchdown came just after she had missed a penalty kick to put England ahead in a game locked at 19-19.
England had taken an early lead, but New Zealand went into the break leading 12-7 after two tries and a conversion in quick succession.
John Mitchell’s Roses came into the second half with a higher intensity to level the game up until the dramatic final seconds and Harrison taking centre stage.
The Red Roses came into the game supported by a new coaching consultant Shaun Edwards, hoping to utilise his knowledge and experience and convert it into a win.
New Zealand were the first to put the ball over the line with a try from Ayesha Leti-I’iga, however the referee ruled no try for holding on after a complete tackle.
In the 12th minute England were the first on the scoreboard with Claudia Maloney MacDonald tapping it over after a quick pass from Ellie Kildunne out of a lineout.
New Zealand lost the ball mid tackle metresfrom the tryline after countless attacks were stopped by England’s strong wall of defence.
Amy Du Plessis kicked into space behind the England defence line where the ball lay to rest on the New Zealand tryline. Du Plessis was first to react, allowing her to ground the ball.
Minutes later her teammate Ayesha Leti- I’iga regained possession to score, and this was followed by a conversion from Braxton Sorensen- McGee, putting New Zealand 12-7 ahead.
England kicked off the second half with a stronger intensity, leading to them getting the first try of the half in the 44th minute after a quick pass to Kildunne mid tackle saw her tap the ball over the line, and Harrison narrowly put England into the lead with a conversion.
The Black Ferns were reduced to 14 when a yellow was given to Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu after a foul which saw Marlie Packer sent off to the medics.
England sustained a strong maul to allow Jess Breach to touch down and increase the lead to 19-12.
But New Zealand levelled with a try by Mererangi Paul following a quick pass out of a ruck, added to by a conversion from Sorensen-McGee.
In the final two minutes of the game, the Red Roses looked certain to be held to a draw for a second time in a week, after a hard-won penalty saw Harrison’s attempted kick fall short of the posts and into New Zealand possession.
But in the final seconds of the game, Harrison managed to intercept a pass to regain possession for England and touch down, before converting her own try to clinch a seven-point victory.
England:
TRIES: (4)12’ Maloney- MacDonald 44’ Kildunne 54’ Breach 79’ Harrison
CONVERSONS: (3) 12’ Harrison 44’ Harrison 79’ Harrison
PENALTIES: (0)
DROP GOALS: (0)
YELLOW CARDS: (0)
RED CARDS: (0)
STARTING XV: 15. Ellie Kildunne 14. Jess Breach 13. Megan Jones 12. Helena Rowland 11. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald 10. Zoe Harrison 9. Lucy Packer 1. Mackenzie Carson 2. Bryony Field 3. Sarah Bern 4. Morwenna Talling 5. Lilli Ives Campion 6. Alex Matthews 7. Marlie Packer 8. Maddie Feaunati
REPLACEMENTS: 16. May Campbell 17. Hannah Botterman 18. Maud Muir 19. Haineala Lutui 20. Abi Burton 21. Natasha Hunt 22. Tatyana Heard 23. Emma Sing
Marlie Packer in for Sadia Kabeya who has been ruled out due to a leg injury.
New Zealand: 19
TRIES: (3)24’ Du Plessis 30’ Leti- I’iga 69’ Paul
CONVERSIONS: (2)30’ Sorensen-Mcgee 70’ Sorensen-Mcgee
PENALTIES: (0)
DROP GOALS: (0)
YELLOW CARDS: (1)52’ Mahytariki-Fakalelu
RED CARDS: (0)
STARTING XV: 15. Braxton Sorensen- Mcgee 14. Mererangi Paul 13. Amy Du Plessis 12. Logo–I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’I Sylvia Brunt 11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga 10. Hannah King 9. Maia Joseph 1. Chryss Viliko 2. Georgia Ponsonby 3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu 4. Maiakawanakaulani Roos 5. Laura Bayfield 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u 7. Elinor-Plum King 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Atlanta Lolohea 17. Maddison Robinson 18. Santo Taumata 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu 20. Layla Sae 21. Tara Turner 22. Justine McGregor 23. Alena Saili
