The Vodafone Warriors-sponsored Kiwi Ferns are now preparing for their next outing against England after starting the womens Rugby League World Cup with an 88-0 win over France at Tetleys Stadium in Dewsbury, England, on Friday. Photo: Photosport.
New Zealands three-times world champion team had six players on debut and the youngest of them, Amber Hall, really impressed.
Hall, who is not long out of Auckland Girls Grammar School, is a front rower who has been described by her coach Lynley Tierney-Mani as a mix of Ben Matulino and Johnathan Thurston.
When she had the ball, Amber could pull in up to seven French tacklers at a time, said Tierney-Mani.
But if things got too busy she could also hit her outsides with perfect cut-out passes.
One player to benefit from the quality service Hall and the forwards provided was Honey Hireme. The Kiwi Ferns captain, who is affectionately known as Honey Bill due to her Sonny Bill Williams-like skillset, scored five tries in the centres. Hireme was the only player not to travel to the UK with her teammates, as she was in Moscow winning the rugby union 7s World Cup title with the Black Ferns.
Kahurangi Peters was another on debut to catch the eye.
She was running some unbelievable lines, said Tierney-Mani. Peters big sister Rona Peters was named the players player of the day.
Among the high-profile faces in the crowd were professional players Rangi Chase, from Castleford, and Ali Lauitiiti, from Wakefield. The Kiwi Ferns have been invited to watch Castleford play St Helens on Sunday.
The Kiwi Ferns stayed on at the ground in Dewsbury to watch the Australian and English women in their pool match. The Australians won that game 14-6.
The Kiwi Ferns will face England next, starting at 7am (NZ-time) on Tuesday.
The womens World Cup final is on July 14 at Headingley, Leeds.
Match details:
At Tetleys Stadium, Dewsbury
Kiwi Ferns 88 (Honey Hireme 5, Karley Te Kawa 3, Sarina Fiso 2, Lisa Campbell, Amber Hall, Kathleen Keremete, Nora Maaka, Kelly Maipi, Laura Mariu, Kahurangi Peters tries; Laura Mariu 7 conversions; Lisa Campbell 3 conversions).
Kiwi Ferns: Sarina Fiso; Tasha Tapu, Honey Hireme (captain), Brenda Collins, Karley Te Kawa; Nora Maaka, Rona Peters; Kelly Maipi, Sharnita Woodman, Ana Pereira; Kathleen Keremete, Lisa Campbell; Akenese Pereira. Interchange: Kahurangi Peters, Simone Panapa, Laura Mariu, Amber Hall. 18th: Geneva Webber
KIWI FERNS WORLD CUP DRAW (UK times shown)
Monday, July 8, BigFellas Stadium, Featherstone, 8.00pm
New Zealand v England
Thursday, July 11, LoveRugbyLeague.com Stadium, Batley, 6.00pm
New Zealand v Australia
Saturday, July 13, South Leeds Stadium, Leeds, 6.00pm
3rd v 4th play-off
Sunday, July 14, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds, 1.45pm
World Cup Final
New Zealands three-times world champion team had six players on debut and the youngest of them, Amber Hall, really impressed.
Hall, who is not long out of Auckland Girls Grammar School, is a front rower who has been described by her coach Lynley Tierney-Mani as a mix of Ben Matulino and Johnathan Thurston.
When she had the ball, Amber could pull in up to seven French tacklers at a time, said Tierney-Mani.
But if things got too busy she could also hit her outsides with perfect cut-out passes.
One player to benefit from the quality service Hall and the forwards provided was Honey Hireme. The Kiwi Ferns captain, who is affectionately known as Honey Bill due to her Sonny Bill Williams-like skillset, scored five tries in the centres. Hireme was the only player not to travel to the UK with her teammates, as she was in Moscow winning the rugby union 7s World Cup title with the Black Ferns.
Kahurangi Peters was another on debut to catch the eye.
She was running some unbelievable lines, said Tierney-Mani. Peters big sister Rona Peters was named the players player of the day.
Among the high-profile faces in the crowd were professional players Rangi Chase, from Castleford, and Ali Lauitiiti, from Wakefield. The Kiwi Ferns have been invited to watch Castleford play St Helens on Sunday.
The Kiwi Ferns stayed on at the ground in Dewsbury to watch the Australian and English women in their pool match. The Australians won that game 14-6.
The Kiwi Ferns will face England next, starting at 7am (NZ-time) on Tuesday.
The womens World Cup final is on July 14 at Headingley, Leeds.
Match details:
At Tetleys Stadium, Dewsbury
Kiwi Ferns 88 (Honey Hireme 5, Karley Te Kawa 3, Sarina Fiso 2, Lisa Campbell, Amber Hall, Kathleen Keremete, Nora Maaka, Kelly Maipi, Laura Mariu, Kahurangi Peters tries; Laura Mariu 7 conversions; Lisa Campbell 3 conversions).
Kiwi Ferns: Sarina Fiso; Tasha Tapu, Honey Hireme (captain), Brenda Collins, Karley Te Kawa; Nora Maaka, Rona Peters; Kelly Maipi, Sharnita Woodman, Ana Pereira; Kathleen Keremete, Lisa Campbell; Akenese Pereira. Interchange: Kahurangi Peters, Simone Panapa, Laura Mariu, Amber Hall. 18th: Geneva Webber
KIWI FERNS WORLD CUP DRAW (UK times shown)
Monday, July 8, BigFellas Stadium, Featherstone, 8.00pm
New Zealand v England
Thursday, July 11, LoveRugbyLeague.com Stadium, Batley, 6.00pm
New Zealand v Australia
Saturday, July 13, South Leeds Stadium, Leeds, 6.00pm
3rd v 4th play-off
Sunday, July 14, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, Leeds, 1.45pm
World Cup Final
