World News – UA – Rookie leads Kiwi Ferns to win over Samoa

WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE

Stephens-Daly scored two tries and organized another on his debut as New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns proved too powerful against an invitational team of Fetu Samoa 28-8 at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday

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In a week when the Kiwi Ferns celebrated 25 years of rich history, an inexperienced New Zealand team put on a show in front of former players who proved unstoppable for two decades from 1995

The match also marked the only international game scheduled for the rugby league schedule this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Newly appointed coach Ricky Henry turned to 11 newbies from New Zealand’s local and national competitions with several stars including Georgia Hale, Amber Hall and Raecene McGregor unavailable

With just five players coming to last year’s test match loss to the Jillaroos in October, substitutes Stephens-Daly and Karlee Hansen were impressed to help give Henry his first victory at the head of the national team and think about the future of the 2021 World Cup

A rugby sevens converted from Bay of Plenty, Stephens-Daly’s brace established an impressive 24-4 lead midway through the second period in a rambling performance in wet conditions

Stephens-Daly was well supported by Hansen, opened the scoring for the Kiwi Ferns in the third minute with a nifty chip-and-chase, but failed to end the game with a knee injury in a concern for Henry

The power of Kiwi Ferns veteran Honey Hireme-Smiler returning from a knee injury was on display with the star’s center causing nightmares alongside Katelyn Vaha’akolo, who also crossed for a test during its first appearance

Back-to-back penalties imposed on Fetu Samoa, which also consisted of New Zealand-based Samoan players due to border restrictions, allowed visitors to ascend the set via Ricshay Lemanu

Playmaker Fetu Samoan Lemanu took her opportunity against class defenders Hireme-Smiler and Krystal Rota to bamboozle the pair near the line with a dummy

Fetu Samoa center Leianne Tufuga was next to pass for the team in a lively finish for the visitors, who improved in the overall standings after last year’s corresponding 46-8 result

Kiwi Ferns full-back Crystal Tamarua, coming out of a 14-day quarantine after her stint in the NRLW with the Warriors in Australia, crossed before the full-time Siren in a well-deserved tryout late to seal the victory

New Zealand Women’s National Rugby League team, Rugby Football, Samoa