Debutants star for Black Ferns in big win over Black Ferns XV

A special exhibition match took place in Upper Hutt on Friday afternoon, with the Black Ferns locking horns with the Black Ferns XV in a high-scoring encounter.

It was a game for the debutants to reward the selectors for their faith, and Elinor-Plum King, Amarante Sititi and Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a all validated their inclusions in the top squad, with King claiming three tries in the 62-19 win.

Sititi won a breakdown penalty for the Black Ferns on the halfway line in the second minute, with Ruahei Demant’s kick to touch giving her team an early chance to attack from just outside the 22. Sititi and Demant featured again in the ensuing phase play with touches that furthered momentum, ultimately contributing to a try in the corner for Mererangi Pual.

A high tackle in centrefield handed the Black Ferns XV a lineout inside the Black Ferns 22, from which play swung from wing to wing, before the ball was put through the hands to find a half-gap for rising star Presayus Singh, who splintered the defence with a swerving run to score. The conversion gave the underdogs a two-point lead after 15 minutes of action.

The Blacks Ferns XV continued to chance their hand from deep in their own half but struggled to execute, with the second chip-and-chase exit seeing the ball bounce into the waiting arms of Ayesha Leti’I’iga. Two minutes later, interplay from the Black Ferns tight forwards got the attack rolling forward and Tara Turner dashed laterally from the ruck, drawing the defence out before delivering the inside ball to Leti’I’iga, who burst through the gap and won the race to the try line.

A Wikitoria Viljoen break down the left edge re-energised a Black Ferns XV attack after some disruptive defence made life difficult, with the break eventually ended by a penalty against Demant at the breakdown. Some heavy collisions close to the line followed, with Leata Puni-Lio eventually crashing over to regain the lead.

Braxton Sorensen-McGee pushed her restart a whisker too far, resulting in a scrum on halfway for the Black Ferns XV, but even with some recently established attacking momentum, it was hard-going against a Black Ferns defence that was building in confidence and backing its anticipation.

An overthrown lineout was collected by Georgia Ponsonby, triggering the Black Ferns’ next attack, with Sorensen McGee making metres down the right flank. Mia Anderson powered over the gain line before popping the ball up to Elinor-Plum King, who scored her first try for the Black Ferns.

An enormous 50/22 from Sorensen-McGee added to the Black Ferns’ run shortly after another break from Viljoen was diffused, and Leti’I’iga had the footwork to beat a one-on-one tackle out wide to extend her side’s lead to 26-14. That scoreline remained at the halftime break.

The second period kicked off with long passages of Black Ferns XV attack that struggled to make meaningful metres, only for Justine McGregor to spark a Black Ferns attack with a draw and pass that put Mererangi Paul in some space. There was slick handling on display on both wings as the Black Ferns pressed upfield, and while their first attempt at the line was held up, King nabbed her second try after a quick tap from Maia Joseph.

The Black Ferns XV then called on their 11-woman bench for mass changes and immediately launched a dangerous counter-attack through Arene Landon-Lane. It was a short-lived burst, though, with the Black Ferns quickly responding with a full-field drive of their own. Joseph extended her side’s lead in the 59th minute when the try line was left open immediately beside a ruck. Strong carries from Maama Vaipulu and Mia Anderson contributed powerfully to the preceding attack.

The Black Ferns struck again swiftly by exploiting an overlap down the right wing, with King at the end of the line and providing the pace to score, completing her hat-trick on debut. A charge-down on the Black Ferns XV line then saw Tara Turner win the race to the loose ball and bring the Black Ferns’ points haul to 50. The late avalanche continued when Vici-Rose Green crashed over from close range after some superb offloading earned the Black Ferns big metres with the ball in hand.

A Winnie Palamo intercept gave the Black Ferns XV one final chance to score, and after some bruising carries close to the line, Sam Taylor provided the power to reach the chalk.

Just a minute remained in the match when the Black Ferns stole another lineout, with Sylvia Brunt drawing defenders before offloading to Alena Saili, who in turn stepped and found Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, who completed her impressive debut with a try.

The final whistle then blew with the Black Ferns owning a 62-19 lead.