Full Time
80:00
1:10pm Sat June 25, 2022
Representative Round - Go Media Stadium, Penrose / Aotearoa - Crowd: 18312
80min

FULL TIME! The Kiwi Ferns were dominant all the way throughout, but Tonga Women did a good job of putting up a bit of a fight in the second half. 50-12. Next up in Auckland, the men's sides will battle it out! Bye!

80min

Conversion: Tonga Women
Kicked by Haylee Hifo.

Haylee Hifo has the last say, converting her own try to end the match.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 50 - 12 Tonga Women
80min

Try: Tonga Women
Scored by Haylee Hifo. Kick to come.

A late consolation try for Tonga off a very nice kick from China Polata.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 50 - 10 Tonga Women
79min

HELD UP! The Kiwi Ferns travel all the way downfield in one set, and 5 or 6 Tonga players work to hold Krystal Rota up on the last.

78min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Kicked by Laishon Jones.

Jones is 3 from 11 on conversions, but she has had some tough assignments today.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 50 - 6 Tonga Women
77min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Nita Maynard. Kick to come.

Very smart play from Nita Maynard. Throws the dummy out of dummy-half, and strolls through a huge gap for another Kiwi Ferns try.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 48 - 6 Tonga Women
75min

Tonga's defensive efforts have improved significantly in this second half.

74min

Kiwi Ferns with a 4 on 1 on their left edge, but some scrambling defence keeps them from the line somehow.

73min

Lavinia Tauhalaliku is down with a head knock, but it looks like she's staying on for now.

72min

Kalosipani Hopoate is down in back play, she is leaving the field now to applause.

72min

Tonga Women JUST hold on, and will get a 20m tap for their defensive efforts.

71min

Penalty Kiwi Ferns! The game seemed to be finding some rhythm, but the Kiwi Ferns will tap it 30m out from Tonga's line, and will have another great chance.

67min

Brilliant running from Ana Taumalolo gets some metres for Tonga, but a cheap error and it's the Kiwi Ferns ball yet again.

66min

Conversion: Tonga Women
Kicked by Haylee Hifo.

Slots it from the left of the uprights.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 44 - 6 Tonga Women
66min

Try: Tonga Women
Scored by China Polata. Kick to come.

Tonga are over! Some great work from China Polata, and she is very happy with that effort. She's looked the most likely for Tonga today, and she just takes the line on, spins, and gets the ball down with defenders hanging off her.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 44 - 4 Tonga Women
65min

AND AGAIN! Tonga being given plenty of chances, if the Kiwi Ferns keep giving away penalties a sin bin could be on the cards.

64min

And that's a third penalty now, Kiwi Ferns offside again.

63min

Another penalty, Shirley Mailangi takes the quick tap and suddenly Tonga Women have a chance here.

62min

PENALTY TONGA! The Kiwi Ferns are offside in defence, and Tonga will be marched up field. And now a six again as well.

60min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Jones can't convert her own try.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 44 - 0 Tonga Women
60min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Laishon Jones. Kick to come.

But this one will be a try for Jones. Well deserved for the five-eigth, but some soft defence whenever the Kiwi Ferns shift the ball needs to be fixed for Tonga.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 44 - 0 Tonga Women
58min

NO TRY! A contest for a Kiwi Ferns kick has been ruled to be a knock on before Laishon Jones fell over the try line.

58min

Laishon Jones has crashed over the line, but the video referee will be needed.

57min

Keisharn Hala is off for a HIA in a blow for Tonga

56min

They attempt to spread it early, but the ball goes into touch and Tonga are off the hook for now.

55min

HANDOVER! The Kiwi Ferns have the ball 30m out from the Tonga line after another set in which Tonga struggled to make metres.

54min

Laishon Jones puts a nice kick in to end another good set for New Zealand, it hits the post and Tonga regain possession.

52min

Tonga on the attack now, a good kick on the last and they turn it over within the Kiwi Ferns 10 metres.

51min

Kiwi Ferns find another oppurtunity on their right wing, but some good defence from China Polata forces Katelyn Vaha'akolo into touch.

50min

PENALTY TONGA! A change in momentum, perhaps? Nope, they've turned it over.

49min

Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly yet again, this time with a line break. But now there's an intercept and Tonga are off downfield!

48min

Tonga women attempt a short kick off, but the Kiwi Ferns gain possession.

48min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Another tough assignment for Laishon Jones.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 40 - 0 Tonga Women
47min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Madison Bartlett. Kick to come.

Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly with some great work yet again, and New Zealand find space on the left edge again.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 40 - 0 Tonga Women
45min

Great backing up from the Ferns fullback Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daly and the Ferns are back in their attacking 20m.

44min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Kicked by Laishon Jones.

Jones slots it over from right in front.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 36 - 0 Tonga Women
44min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Kararaina Wira-Kohu. Kick to come.

Sprinting onto the ball, and Kararaina Wira-Kohu forces her way over for the first points of the second half.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 34 - 0 Tonga Women
42min

DROP OUT! Kiwi Ferns already back on top in field position, storming down the field and a beautiful grubber on the last forces the drop out.

41min

SECOND HALF! The Kiwi Ferns get us back underway, and Tonga have possession.

40min

HALF TIME! A flat out first half, and the Kiwi Ferns lead 30-0. A real masterclass at the moment, Tonga just can't keep up.

40min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

This ones a little closer to the posts for Jones, but it waves away.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 30 - 0 Tonga Women
39min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Roxy Murdoch. Kick to come.

Another one! This time the Kiwi Ferns go through Tonga, with some charging runs from their forwards setting it up for Roxy Murdoch to crash over.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 30 - 0 Tonga Women
38min

Good attacking kick from Laishon Jones, forces the error and gives them even more possession.

36min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Another from the sideline, another one that doesn't make the distance.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 26 - 0 Tonga Women
36min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Katelyn Vaha'akolo. Kick to come.

Too easy off the scrum for the Kiwi Ferns, and they're over in the right corner again. Tonga's edge defence isn't quite there.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 26 - 0 Tonga Women
35min

The Kiwi Ferns make 80m off the kick-off, and force a six again on the last. Now a mid-field scrum, what can they do with it?

32min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Another missed conversion from the sideline, this one not having the distance off the boot.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 22 - 0 Tonga Women
32min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Amy Turner. Kick to come.

Some great work from Raecene McGregor with an early kick finding Amy Turner in the corner. Turner makes no mistake this time.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 22 - 0 Tonga Women
31min

China Polata for Tonga is looking electric with the ball in attack, but they just aren't helping themselves at the moment Tonga. They give away a 20m tap and then a penalty and now the Kiwi Ferns are back on the front foot.

30min

Another opportunity for Tonga, with a Kiwi Fern error as they attempted to work their way off their line. The pressure is building.

29min

Tonga Women beginning to find some form of momentum now, spreading the ball and helped upfield by a penalty. Can they find some points?

26min

Tonga challenging the Kiwi Ferns for the first time in that set. They turn the ball over on the New Zealand line.

24min

CHIP AND CHASE! Brave play from China Polata forces a New Zealand error, and Tonga have some field position 35m out from the Kiwi Ferns line.

23min

Tonga not making many metres trying to work it out of their half. They're being pushed back on every carry.

23min

The decision of a strip has been overturned, so we have a turnover.

23min

Kiwi Ferns work it downfield, run it on the last, and win a penalty for a strip. Tonga are challenging though.

21min

Ngatokotoru Arakua hobbling with the ball off the kick off, Badger calls time off, and she's being subbed off.

21min

Tonga's defence has been quite lacklustre so far...

20min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Kicked by Laishon Jones.

Jones slots her first conversion of the afternoon.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 18 - 0 Tonga Women
19min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Raecene McGregor. Kick to come.

BEAUTIFUL FOOTWORK! The halfback goes over next to the posts.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 16 - 0 Tonga Women
18min

Another penalty, another attacking set for New Zealand coming.

17min

PENALTY KIWI FERNS. Tonga's discipline is not helping them, with a lifting tackle giving the Kiwi Ferns a free trip downfield.

16min

After a hectic start, play seems to be settling down slightly here.

14min

Looks like the Kiwi Ferns are in off the back of the sin bin, but Amy Turner has dropped it over the line. Try overturned by the bunker, and Tonga have a 20m tap.

13min

Ferns storm downfield, get a penalty, take the quick tap before Shirley Mailangi attempts a tackle despite being well offside. A professional foul, and this is going to make things even tougher for Tonga.

11min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

0 from 3 now on conversions for the Kiwi Ferns. Remains 12-0.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 12 - 0 Tonga Women
10min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Katelyn Vaha'akolo. Kick to come.

The Kiwi Ferns run it on the last through Laishon Jones, and this time they go over on their right wing. NZ lead 12-0.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 12 - 0 Tonga Women
8min

ERROR! The Kiwi ferns knock it on working their way out of their half, Tonga have their first attacking opportunity. Oh no they've spread it early and ended up in touch. Kiwi Ferns ball.

6min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Another one from the sideline, another one waved away.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 8 - 0 Tonga Women
6min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Madison Bartlett. Kick to come.

Too easy for the Kiwi Ferns. Storming downfield off the kick-off, before spreading it to their left edge yet again. They're well on top.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 8 - 0 Tonga Women
5min

Conversion: Kiwi Ferns
Attempted by Laishon Jones.

Kick from the sideline waves away.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 4 - 0 Tonga Women
5min

Try: Kiwi Ferns
Scored by Page McGregor. Kick to come.

The Kiwi Ferns spread it to their left edge, and find the line for the first try.

Kiwi Ferns lead Kiwi Ferns 4 - 0 Tonga Women
4min

The Kiwi Ferns are on top early, making quick meters up the ground. An error from Tonga gives them another early attacking set just metres out from the line now.

3min

An error from Annetta Nuuausala lets Tonga off the hook, and it's their turn with the ball now.

2min

PENALTY! Kiwi Ferns receive an early penalty and are on the attack.

1min

WE ARE UNDERWAY! Kasey Badger blows her whistle, and Tonga kick off.

International rugby league returns to Auckland this afternoon, with the Kiwi Ferns taking on Tonga Women in the first of four Pacific tests today. The national anthems are playing, and kick off is only a few minutes away. Welcome, everybody!

Referees & scorers:

Referee: Kasey Badger

Touch Judges: Joseph Green, Rochelle Tamarua

Video Referee: Steve Chiddy

NEW ZEALAND (W) (50)
Tries: Page McGregor, Laishon Jones, Madison Bartlett (2), Katelyn Vaha'akolo (2), Raecene McGregor, Amy Turner, Roxy Murdoch, Kararaina Wira-Kohu, Nita Maynard
Conversions: Laishon Jones (3/11)

TONGA (W) (12)
Tries: China Polata, Haylee Hifo
Conversions: Haylee Hifo (2/2)