Black Ferns too strong for Wallaroos

Report: ARU

New Zealand’s Kendra Cocksedge and Ruahei Demant dominated the contest as the hosts ran away with the victory.

Demant and winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga finished with doubles as the Black Ferns retained the O'Reilly Cup, remaining undefeated against the visitors.

Piper Duck got a late try for the Wallaroos as they struggled to shut down the hosts' attack, looking to bounce back in Adelaide next week.

“Full credit to the Kiwis, they put us to the sword and they really made us pay as we struggled to grind them down and stop their possession,” Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry said.

“It’s a stepping stone to the back end of the year. I think we’ve come a long way in a short time and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead at the end of the year.

“We’re really looking forward to getting back to Adelaide, there’s nothing like playing at home so we’re really looking forward to getting to Adelaide Oval and playing in front of the green and gold army.”

Cocksedge set up the first try after several strong bursts from the Black Ferns forward pack as the scrum half put Ruahei Demant through a hole.

The Wallaroos looked promising when they spread the ball through Ivania Wong and Mahalia Murphy but couldn’t find any ascendancy at set piece time as the hosts controlled the first half.

Lock Joanah Ngan-Woo powered over the line eight minutes later before centre Amy du Plessis stretched out and dived over the line to score her first try in International Rugby.

Cocksedge then put Ayesha Leti-I’iga through a hole almost immediately from the kick-off to ramp up their attack.

The 34-year-old’s show and go caught the Wallaroos’ defence napping as she dived over the line to give the Black Ferns a 26-0 lead at the break.

The hosts picked up where they left off as Ayesha Leti-I’iga sprinted over to score a great individual try.

Demant picked up where her halves partner left off as both teams rang in the changes, crossing for a double.

This was followed by winger Leti-I’iga getting her second to put the result out of question.

Replacement hooker Luka Connor capped off the dominant performance with a late try from the rolling maul to bring up the half century.

With time running, a great pass from Emily Robinson set up one final attack as the Wallaroos got a late consolation try to Piper Duck.

Teams

New Zealand 52

TRIES: Demant 2, Ngan-Woo, Du Plessis, Cocksedge, Leti-I’iga 2, Connor; CONS: Cocksedge 3/4, Holmes 3/4

(1-23); Pip Love; Georgia Ponsonby; Tanya Kalounivale; Joanah Ngan Woo; Chelsea Bremner; Alana Bremner; Kennedy Simon (co-captain); Charmaine McMenamin; Kendra Cocksedge; Ruahei Demant (co-captain); Ayesha Leti-I’iga; Theresa Fitzpatrick; Amy du Plessis; Ruby Tui; Renee Holmes; Luka Connor; Awhina Tangen-Wainohu; Amy Rule; Tafito Lafaele; Kendra Reynolds; Tyla Nathan-Wong; Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’I (Sylvia) Brunt; Hazel Tubic

Australia 5

TRIES: Duck; CONS: McKenzie 0/1

1.Bree-Anna Cheatham* – Queensland Reds; 2.Ashley Marsters – Melbourne Rebels; 3.Bridie O’Gorman – NSW Waratahs; 4.Michaela Leonard – ACT Brumbies; 5.Kaitlan Leaney – NSW Waratahs; 6.Emily Chancellor – NSW Waratahs; 7.Shannon Parry (c) – Queensland Reds; 8.Grace Kemp** – ACT Brumbies; 9.Iliseva Batibasaga – NSW Waratahs; 10.Arabella McKenzie – NSW Waratahs; 11.Ivania Wong – Queensland Reds; 12.Cecilia Smith – Queensland Reds; 13.Georgina Friedrichs – NSW Waratahs; 14.Mahalia Murphy – NSW Waratahs; 15.Pauline Piliae-Rasabale – NSW Waratahs; Reserves; 16.Adiana Talakai – NSW Waratahs; 17.Emily Robinson – NSW Waratahs; 18.Eva Karpani – NSW Waratahs; 19.Atasi Lafai – NSW Waratahs; 20.Piper Duck – NSW Waratahs; 21.Layne Morgan – NSW Waratahs; 22.Trilleen Pomare – Western Force; 23.Lori Cramer – NSW Waratahs;*Denotes Wallaroos debut; **Denotes Wallaroos starting debut;