England (17) 32
Tries: Penalty (7pts), Thompson x2, Noel-Smith
Cons: Scarratt x2
Pens: Scarratt x2
New Zealand (10) 41
Tries: Winiata x2, Natua x3, Smith, Cocksedge
Cons: Cocksedge x3
New Zealand came back from a 7 point defecit at half-time, to beat a spirited England side at the Kingspan Stadium to regain the title off the previous reigning champions.
A penalty try alongside a Lydia Thompson try gave England a comfortable 17-5 lead heading towards the break, but having dominated both territory and possesion for the whole of the first half the lead was certainly not enough to cope with an all-guns-firing Black Ferns team after the break.
WOTM and NZ Prop Toka Natua paved the way for the New Zealand win, with an excellent second half hatrick. It was a game packed with action, with an end-to-end contest for almost 70 minutes! It is rare you see a World Cup final of such quality and dominant play from both sides, with the usual finals being a more cagey affair; pace, power and class were evident on both sides.
Keep posted for more Sports-related reports!