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England 6-20 New Zealand: MORE heartbreak against the Kiwis as Craig Richards’ home favorites from the Women’s Rugby League World Cup are dumped in the semi-finals in York
- New Zealand defeated England to reach the final of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup
- The semi-final in York comes days after England’s men lost their semi-final
- It is the fifth World Cup in a row that England or GB women have lost to the Kiwis
There will be no home glory at Old Trafford on Saturday after the England women went in the same direction as the men.
Two days after Shaun Wane’s boys were stunned by Samoa in their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, the ladies lost to New Zealand’s Craig Richards in the last four in York.
It is the fifth World Cup in a row that the women of England or Great Britain have lost to the Kiwi Ferns.
England suffered a semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup
The Kiwis dominated the game in York and they eventually ran out 20-6 winners to go through
And while this score and performance was a marked improvement on their 52-4 defeat at the same stage of the 2017 tournament, England’s wait for a first final as a single nation continues.
New Zealand will now face compatriot Australia for the fourth time in a row in the final, with the game taking place at Old Trafford just before the men’s parade between Samoa and the Kangaroos.
In front of a record crowd of 7,139 fans at the LNER Community Stadium, England hoped they could cause a shock when Fran Goldthorp crossed after just five minutes and Tara-Jane Stanley converted.
It is a bigger defeat for England after the men lost their semi-final to Samoa a few days ago
But the Kiwis were too powerful for the hosts and Mele Hufanga stormed over in the 16th minute before Raecene McGregor landed on the line after half an hour.
With Apii Nicholls unable to convert both attempts, England trailed only 8-6 at half time.
Still, Otesa Pule scored seven minutes into the second half and Brianna Clark went under the posts five minutes later to seal the deal for the three-time champions.