Toka Natua hat-trick powers New Zealand Women to fifth World Cup title

England Women 32 - 41 New Zealand Women
Women's World Cup final, Belfast

Toka Natua scored a hat-trick of tries while full-back Selica Winiata contributed with a brace as New Zealand completed a 32-41 win over England in Belfast to lift the Women's World Cup title for the fifth time.

Selicia Winiata scored an early try in the game to get the Black Ferns off to a promising start but Kendra Cocksedge missed out on the conversion. Emily Scarratt got England off the mark in the 15th minute when she kicked a penalty but a sin-bin to Sarah Gross saw a penalty try awarded to Simon Middleton's team as they raced to a 10-5 lead in the 25th minute.

England further stepped up the ante with a touchdown from Lydia Thompson and Scarratt's conversion took them to a 12 point lead.

Natua provided some respite for New Zealand when she crossed over at the stroke of half time but Cocksedge failed with the conversion once again as they trailed the first half by seven points.

New Zealand showed more intent at the start of the second half with tries each from Natua and Charmaine Smith but this time Cocksedge converted both the tries.

Just as the game was evenly poised at 20-24, Thompson's second try in the game helped England gain a slender one point lead but tries from Natua, Cocksedge and Winiata took the game away from the 2014 Champions as they gained a 25-41 lead.

Even though, Isabelle Noel-Smith scored a last minute try, England succumbed to a nine point defeat as Black Ferns lifted the title for the fifth time.

Meanwhile, France won the Bronze medal following a 31-23 win over USA while Canada, Italy and Wales claimed the fifth, seventh and ninth places with wins over Australia, Spain and Ireland respectively.