Stalemate at Esher as England and New Zealand draw

England had already won the series 2-0 and the Black Ferns were playing for pride in the final test.

England started strongly, just like they did in mid-week, putting pressure on New Zealand at the breakdown with the Black Ferns forced to concede a spate of early penalties.

Katy McLean, winning her 50th cap on the day, missed an easy penalty shot in front of the posts after New Zealand were penalised at a scrum, but she made up for it minutes later slotting her effort from the same position to give her side a 3-0 lead.

New Zealand then grabbed a try against the run of play. Kat Merchant made a lovely jinking break through the heart of New Zealands defence but she lost the ball in contact and the pacey Renee Wickliffe scooped up racing over from the halfway line in the corner. 3-5

But New Zealand continued to look nervous in possession, forcing handling errors and then losing fullback Hazel Tubic to the sinbin for a needless foot trip on Emily Scarrat who was chasing her own kick.

New Zealand survived the ten minutes without her though and then hugely ramped up the pressure in attack, firstly with Brazier and Justine Lavea combining and then winning a shot in front of the goal which Brazier converted for an 8-3 lead.

England made three changes at the break bringing on Natasha Hunt, Victoria Fleetwood and Marlie Packer while New Zealand brought on Rebecca Mahoney.

It was end to end for the opening quarter, with New Zealand proving hugely tenacious in defence but again the Black Ferns were troubled at the breakdown, conceding penalty after penalty and handing McLean another shot at goal which she missed.

New Zealand were struggling to keep ball in hand, choosing either to kick it away poorly or losing it in contact but they came at England much stronger than they had done in either of the previous games. But their trouble with the referees whistle continued as first Ross Campbell missed two huge forward passes from England and then Lydia Crossman was binned for pulling down a maul.

Life got a little bit harder when England scored a big forward drive shoving Hunt over to level the game 8-8 and then it was very much game on with 20 minutes to go.

It was tense stuff from then on in as both sides tried to stem their errors in an effort to win the match. Mahoney brought her side a little more composure at fly-half but Emily Scarratt was so assured at the back, that even her good probing kicks could yield little return.

But New Zealand were pushing, with Grant, Brazier and Wickliffe far more prominent. They should have scored with 8 minutes to go when Tupic and Grant found space out wide but the fullbacks pass went straight into touch and the chance was lost. They had more chances to win it Grant dropped a vital pas and broke a move down out wide and then they rejected what would have been a match winning shot at the posts though they were by no means assured of slotting it.

The game ended tensely but England hung on.

England:Emily Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Rachael Burford, Alice Richardson, Kay Wilson, Katy McLean (C), La Toya Mason, Claire Purdy, Amy Turner, Sophie Hemming, Rebecca Essex, Tamara Taylor, Alexandra Matthews, Marggie Alphonsi, Sarah Hunter

Replacements:Victoria Fleetwood (for Turner 40), Laura Keates (for Purdy 49), Rowena Burnfield (for Essex 65) Marlie Packer (for Matthews 40) Natasha Hunt (for Mason 40), Kimberley Oliver (for Richardson 30) Georgina Roberts

New Zealand:Hazel Tubic, Victoria Grant, Shakira Baker, Teresa Te Tamaki, Renee Wickliffe, Kelly Brazier, Kendra Cocksedge, Kathleen Wilton, Karina Penetito., Stephanie TeOhaere-Fox, Vita Robinso, Eloise Blackwell, Lydia Crossman, Justine Lavea, Casey Robertson

Replacements: Doris Taufateau, Muteremoana Aiatu, Amanda Murphy (for Robinson 68), Rawina Everitt (for Crossman 68), Emma Jensen (for Cocksedge 60), Rebecca Mahoney (for Baker 40), Katarina Whata