IT TOOK a couple of late scores for New Zealand women to avoid being victim to the World Cup’s first bonafide upset.
In their first World Cup game, Fiji women tendered a remarkable performance against the Kiwi Ferns to fall just short, 18-12, at McDonald Jones Stadium.
New Zealand had never trailed at halftime in a World Cup match to anyone but Australia – but Fiji’s ambition clearly went beyond that achievement when they held a 12-10 advantage.
New Zealand’s early try to Stacey Waaka seemed according to script with an overlap leveraged on the left.
But the Bulikula served notice that was no script when Losana Lutu plunged over next to the posts in the 21st minute.
And then, to the incredulity of long-term followers of the women’s game, Fiji extended its lead when Sienna Laing crossed six minutes later.
Inevitably, New Zealand scored before halftime via Waaka’s second but that lead stayed with the Bulikula, 12-10.
Zahara Temara booted a Kiwi Fern penalty to set up a tense finish, made even more tense when Sereana Naitokatoka missed a penalty goal in front with 10 minutes left.
Temara had a late penalty goal to edge her team ahead before Leianne Tufuga fielded a kick in the left corner and flashed over for the clincher.
“Fiji brought it to us and it was a bit of a surprise to us,” said Waaka.
NEW ZEALAND 18 (Waaka 2 Tufuga tries Temara 3 goals) beat FIJI 12 (Latu Laing tries Naitokatoka Yaranamua goals) at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Teams:
NEW ZEALAND: Apii Nicholls (Warriors); Leianne Tufuga (Canberra), Mele Hufanga (Warriors), Abigail Roache (North Queensland), Stacey Waaka (Warriors); Zahara Temara (Canberra), Raecene McGregor (capt, Wests Tigers); Otesa Pule (Sydney Roosters), Georgia Hale (capt, Gold Coast), Shannon Mato (Brisbane), Annessa Biddle (Cronulla), Kaiyah Atai (Warriors), Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa (Canterbury).
Reserves: Ashleigh Quinlan (Canterbury), Alexis Tauaneai (Canterbury), Ivana Lauitiiti (New Zealand Warriors), Brianna Clark (Brisbane Broncos), Brooke Anderson (St George Illawarra), Tenika Willison (Newcastle).
FIJI: Cassie Staples (Cronulla); Maria Paseka (St George Illawarra), Isabella Waterman (Canberra), Taina Naividi (Sydney Roosters), Sienna Laing (Burleigh Bears); Luisa Yaranamua (South Sydney), Losana Lutu (Wests Tigers); Latisha Smythe (Canterbury), Sereana Naitokatoka (capt, Canberra), Leilani Ahsam (Cronulla), Elizabeth Naleba (Burleigh Bears), Tamika Jones (Canterbury), Talei Holmes (Cronulla).
Reserves:: Tahlia Marshall (Brisbane Tigers), Teaghan Hartigan (Burleigh Bears), Lorren Ieli (Gold Coast/East Tigers), Nanise Vakacavu (Cronulla), Naomi Tegu (USP Raiders), Aliti Namoce (South Sydney).
Referee: Belinda Sharpe.
