Australia 54-4 New Zealand: Brad Donald's side win record-equalling third Women's Rugby League World Cup

Australia dominated New Zealand to win the Women's World Cup for the third time.

The New Zealand Ferns won three tournaments in a row between 2000 and 2008 before being beaten in the final.

Jessica Sergis' fifth-minute try set the tone for a one-sided affair as the defending champion built a 20-0 half-time lead.

New Zealand came to the final with a lot of optimism, having acquitted themselves well in a narrow group-stage loss to Australia.

They were swept aside on the biggest stage of all by a ruthless Australia.

Four of Australia's first five tries were scored by the vastly experienced Brigginshaw who replicated her player of the match performance from last year.

While the Manchester crowd got behind the dispirited New Zealand side, with 'oohs' and 'aahs' accompanying rare breaks through the Australian line, there was no hope of mounting a remarkable fightback.

After getting an inside pass from Sergis, Emma Tonegato rolled over for her second try of the game.

The previous two finals between the world's leading two nations had been close affairs with no more than 10 points separating the teams.

Although the loudest cheer of the day was reserved for a sweeping New Zealand move that saw Madison Bartlett dive over in the corner, two tries from Kennedy Cherrington and Evania Pelite's late effort ensured Australia ended the match with a resounding victory and the second biggest ever winning margin in a

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