With the clock ticking down and the Ferns trailing by five points, they launched a relentless attack on Canada. After 20 heart-stopping phases, Sylvia Brunt finally broke through in the corner, setting up Ruahei Demant for a challenging sideline conversion to win the game.
Unfortunately, Demant’s kick went wide, resulting in the game ending in a draw.
The match kicked off with superstar fullback Braxton Sorensen-McGee scoring the first try after just five minutes, showcasing her speed and skill on the wing. Canada quickly responded with DaLeaka Menin breaking free to level the score at 7-all.
New Zealand regained the lead with Ayesha Leti-I’iga and Asia Hogan-Rochester scoring tries to make it 12-all at halftime.
In the second half, the Ferns surged ahead with Portia Woodman and Sorensen-McGee making impressive runs to extend their lead. Brunt’s clever chip kick set up Leti-I’iga for her second try, putting New Zealand ahead 19-12.
Canada fought back with a try from a ruck, but a missed conversion kept the Ferns in the lead by two points. A mistake from Woodman allowed Canada to score again, taking the lead for the first time with Alysha Corrigan’s try.
Demant’s penalty kick leveled the score once again with 12 minutes remaining. With less than five minutes left, Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored for Canada, putting them ahead by five points.
However, Brunt’s late breakthrough led to a tense moment as Demant attempted a corner conversion to win the game. Despite her best efforts, the kick fell short, and the match ended in a thrilling draw.
