Rugby: Black Ferns down England

Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali scored for the Black Ferns. Photo / Getty

New Zealand's Black Ferns go 2-0 in the Canadian women's Super Series after downing old rivals England 26-7 in a scrappy, and often testy, encounter in Red Deer.

They led 16-7 at halftime, but seldom got enough quick ball to feed their speedy outsides. England were vigorous in the forward exchanges, but offered little on attack and made countless errors.

Fullback Selica Winiata scooted away for a fine individual try from 50m in the dying throes of a disappointingly stilted game played in superb conditions. The best one could say about the match was that the goalkicking was top notch, flawless, in fact.

Halfback Kendra Cocksedge returned to form off the tee with five from five, and Emma Jensen - who needs to just take the field on Monday to draw level with the great Anna Richards as the Black Ferns' most capped player - landed the final conversion. England, via centre Emily Scarratt, landed their only attempt.

England were their own worst enemies in the first spell, making several unforced errors, earning the ire of the referee at the breakdown, and mostly reliant on the hefty boot of vice-captain Scarratt as their exit strategy.

The Black Ferns controlled the early play, and second five Chelsea Alley, who was adjudged player of the match, made some promising forays through the England defensive wall. But, against the run of play, England No 8 Alex Matthews scored the first try, beating some paper-thin defence in the midfield.

Black Ferns No 10 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, who put in some useful tactical kicks, made a swift riposte, two steps, two fends and a jink, to cross between the uprights.
Wing Honey Hireme was largely unemployed, but she did twice cross the line, only to be ruled as having cut the touch line.

England hammered away, winning a tighthead, and twice held up over the line. But they could not make it count, even after Black Ferns No 8 Linda Itunu was sinbinned.
This was the first test between the two sides since 2013, when New Zealand won a home series 3-0.

The Black Ferns play their final match of the tournament against USA on Monday morning (10am, NZT) in Edmonton. Expect several changes for that fixture.

Black Ferns 26 (Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Selica Winiata tries; Kendra Cocksedge con, 3 pen, Emma Jensen con) England 7 (Alex Matthews try; Emily Scarratt con) Halftime: 16-7 New Zealand