England 6-20 New Zealand: MORE heartache against the Kiwis in Women’s Rugby League World Cup

There will be no home glory at Old Trafford on Saturday after England’s women went the same way as the men.

Two days after Shaun Wane’s lads were stunned by Samoa in their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, Craig Richards’ ladies lost to New Zealand in the last four at York.

It is the fifth World Cup in a row that England or Great Britain’s women have lost to the Kiwi Ferns.

England suffered semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup

The Kiwis dominated the contest in York and they went on to run out 20-6 winners to progress

And while this scoreline and performance was a marked improvement on their 52-4 defeat at the same stage in the 2017 tournament, England’s wait for a first final as a sole nation goes on.

New Zealand will now meet holders Australia in the final for a fourth straight time, with the match taking place at Old Trafford just before the men’s showpiece between Samoa and the Kangaroos.

In front of a record 7,139 fans at the LNER Community Stadium, England raised hopes they could pull off a shock when Fran Goldthorp crossed after just five minutes and Tara-Jane Stanley converted.

It is more defeat for England after the men lost their semi-final to Samoa just days ago

But the Kiwis were too powerful for the hosts and Mele Hufanga barged over in the 16th minute before Raecene McGregor touched down on the line after half-an-hour.

With Apii Nicholls failing to convert either effort, England only trailed 8-6 at the break.

Yet Otesa Pule scored seven minutes into the second half and Brianna Clark went under the posts five minutes later to seal the deal for the three-time champions.