First-half blitz secures Australia’s fourth straight Women’s Rugby League World Cup title

Jillaroos retain their crown with dominant 34-10 win over Kiwi Ferns Jamie Chapman scores hat-trick before the break in Brisbane In northern Australia, they call this time of the year “the build up” – a sub-tropical rise in heat and pressure where dark clouds roil and minds melt before the heavens open. At Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, it was Australia’s Jillaroos who brought the storm, dominating their New Zealand rivals from the get-go and raining down six first-half tries to win 34-10 and thunder their way to a fourth consecutive World Cup title. If this Australian apocalypse had a horsewoman, it was star winger Jaime Chapman. The long-striding speedster scored three sensational tries in the first half alone to take her tournament tally to 13, breaking the record for an individual at a World Cup. Chapman already has 521,000 Instagram followers around the rugby-loving world. After this try-scoring spree – she now has 18 from her 10 Tests – it’ll be a million. Continue reading...