Kiwi Ferns prevail in spirited trans-tasman battle

v BYE

The Kiwi Ferns second half surge led them to a 26-16 victory over the Jillaroos at Hunter Stadium tonight. 

Tonight's installment of the growing rivalry between the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns, who have traded victories over the last two years, delivered once again. The two sides warmed up the Novacastrian crowd with an entertaining and physical contest that was edged by the more experienced Ferns.

New Zealand absorbed the best shots from the young Jillaroos side in the early stages of the contest, bar a penalty goal to Maddie Studdon and they responded with three tries as winger Atawhai Tupaea finished off a backline movement twice and Maitua Feterika bulldozed her way to the line as the Ferns jumped out to a 12-6 lead at the break. 

Steve Folkes picked five debutants tonight and their inexperience showed in patches through the contest but they matched the physicality of the Kiwi pack through the opening hour before they dropped off. They had some joy in the first half as Maddie Studdon combined well with fullback Samantha Bremner for the latter to cross. 

When the Kiwis needed a spark, they looked towards their senior pairing of Georgia Hale and Sarina Fiso to deliver. The two combined either side of the hour mark to repel the young Aussies. Fiso had herself a brace in the 64th minute after the fullback finished off a smooth back-line movement.

Australia were briefly back in the contest when Karina Brown produced a moment of magic in the 50th when the wingeras turned inside, kicked and retrieved her own effort to claw it back to 16-10. She also added a late consolation try to make it a bittersweet night for the winger.

In the end though, New Zealand were the deserved victors and Krystal Rota sealed the contest with her 67th minute try to make the lead 16 points.