The Black Ferns maintained their dominance over Australia’s Wallaroos, securing the Laurie O’Reilly Cup with a decisive 38-12 win in Newcastle. Although New Zealand showcased their superiority, the contest’s final score could have been closer, had it not been for a couple of questionable officiating decisions.
Eighteen-year-old fullback Braxton Sorenson-McGee marked her Test debut with two tries, with her first try sparking debate. Critics argued that she lost control of the ball while being tackled by Australian winger Desiree Miller, yet referee Clara Munarini and TMO Leo Colgan deemed it a valid score. Wallaroo Maya Stewart expressed her disagreement with the decision while watching from the sidelines.
Another contentious moment occurred in the second half when Australian centre Georgina Friedrichs seemed to score a spectacular try, only for the officials to deny it as she did not assertively claim the grounding. Commentator Andrew Swain lamented the loss of what could have been a memorable moment for the Australian crowd.
New Zealand’s Ayesha Leti-I’iga opened the scoring with two quick tries, catching the Australian defence off guard. Wallaroos forwards Eva Karpani and Ashley Marsters contributed two tries for their side, while Chryss Viliko and Sylvia Brunt found the score sheet for the Black Ferns.
The game marked a debut start for Aussie sevens star Charlotte Caslick, who struggled to make an impact during the match. Analyst Allana Ferguson suggested that a positional change to fullback could benefit both Caslick and the team in their upcoming match against the USA in Canberra.
Despite the gap in skill between the teams, Ferguson was impressed by the Wallaroos’ performance, noting their urgency and intent. She acknowledged the pressure placed on newcomer Tia Hinds, who wore the number 10 jersey for the first time and adapted well as the match progressed.
Historically, Australia has not yet triumphed over New Zealand, but they will look to change their fortunes on home turf against the USA, who are reeling from a loss to Canada in their tournament opener.