Black Ferns dispatch England with ease

Portia Woodman continued her white-hot start to the Sydney leg of the World Sevens circuit, adding three tries to her tally in the Black Ferns’ 33-12 win against England.

The 2017 World Rugby player of the year bagged four in her team’s opening 48-7 win against Japan, and proved too hot to handle for England as New Zealand went top of pool B.

Michaela Blyde made it two braces from as many matches, as the Taranaki player used her pace to torch England early in each half.

New Zealand led 14-0 at halftime and practically had a monopoly on possession.

England struck within the first minute of the second half, when Heather Fisher scooped up a sloppy New Zealand lineout and offloaded for Deborah Fleming to score.

New Zealand wasted little time hitting back, Kelly Brazier using her electric footwork to make a couple of defenders miss, before finding Blyde out wide and increasing the Ferns’ lead to 21-6.

Woodman scored two more, the second after bumping off Jess Breach, to put the game to bed.

Earlier, New Zealand turned a 22-7 halftime lead into a 48-7 romp over Japan.

Woodman needed less than a minute to claim her first try, before adding three more in the second have as her side completed the rout.

Blyde scored two tries of her own, while Ruby Tui and Stacey Waaka also scored in the eight tries to one demolition job.