Kiwi Ferns into World Cup final

The New Zealand women's rugby league side have secured a place in next week's final at the women's World Cup in the UK after beating England 34-16 in their second game of the four-team tournament in England.

The Kiwi Ferns are chasing their fourth consecutive World Cup title since the tournament first started in 2000 which also features Australia and France and will take on their transtasman neighbours in their final pool game on Friday morning (NZT).

It will be something of a dead rubber, given Australia have also won a place in the final, and Kiwi Ferns coach Lynley Tierney-Mani will be mindful of the quick turnaround before Monday morning's (NZT) showdown.

New Zealand have dominated the World Cup, having won the three previous finals by a combined score of 118-4, but Australia and England have closed the gap since the last one in 2008.

This morning's game was locked at 16-16 in the second half before the Kiwis took control with four late tries.

"Yeah, there was a little bit of a sweat-on for some of us on the sideline,'' Tierney-Mani said. "England should be proud. They played with plenty of passion and really wanted it.

"They slowed the tackles and directed us into confrontation. They have some solid girls. But we got some fresh legs into the middle of the park when it was 16-all and we managed to sort things out.''

Fullback Sarina Fiso scored two tries and was named New Zealand's player of the day. New Zealand beat France 88-0 in their opening game.

Australia beat France 72-0 this morning, which came on the back of their 14-6 first-round defeat of England.

New Zealand 34 (Sarina Fiso 2, Kelly Maipi, Aimee Gilbert, Akenese Pereira, Honey Hireme, Karley Te Kawa tries; Laura Mariu 3 gls) England 16. HT: 12-6.