England holds off New Zealand 24-12 in women's rugby

LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked England downed world champion New Zealand 24-12 at Twickenham on Saturday, a year out from the next Women's Rugby World Cup.

Tries by flanker Marlie Packer, winger Abby Dow, fullback Ellie Kildunne and scrumhalf Natasha Hunt staked England to 24-0. The Black Ferns rallied with a pair of tries by wing Katelyn Vaha'akolo, shaking off rust from being inactive since thrashing Australia in July.

England has won three of four from New Zealand since 2021. The one exception was the 2022 World Cup final won by the Black Ferns in Auckland. England has since won 17 straight tests.

Both teams were also warming up for the WXV1 in Vancouver in two weeks.

Coming off a 38-19 win over France last weekend, England took the lead in the 17th minute against the run of play. Prop Sarah Bern's burst helped to set up the driving maul that ended with Packer touching down.

The Black Ferns showed greater energy in attack but Packer’s try ignited the hosts, who sent Dow racing over. The try was made possible by Tatyana Heard’s bullet pass to Dow.

Kildunne was the next over the whitewash after finishing England’s patient buildup with a step inside, leaving New Zealand in urgent need of a rousing halftime team talk to prevent a heavy defeat in front of a 41,500-strong crowd.

Instead, a fourth try was leaked to Hunt just two minutes after the interval, even though England was down to 14 players because of Zoe Aldcroft's yellow card.

The Black Ferns hustle a try through Vaha'akolo in the 52nd and, in further evidence the intensity was draining from England's game, she added her second heading into the final quarter. But the comeback stopped there.

New Zealand's Tanya Kalounivale, center, is tackled by England's Natasha Hunt and Marlie Packer during the Women's International match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

England's Alex Matthews is tackled by New Zealand's Renee Holmes, right, during the Women's International match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

England's Abbie Ward wins the ball from the lineout during the Women's International match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

England's Abby Dow scores their side's second try of the game during the Women's International match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

England's Emily Scarratt is tackled by New Zealand's Kennedy Tukuafu, right, during the Women's International match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Saturday Sept. 14, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Shea Langeliers homered twice, including a towering solo drive that cleared the Wrigley Field bleachers in left, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Langeliers’ third multihomer game of the season and No. 5 for his career upped his season total to 28, extending his career best.

Lawrence Butler also went deep for Oakland, which stopped a three-game losing streak. The skid included back-to-back losses to the MLB-worst White Sox.

Ian Happ hit two solo homers for the Cubs (77-74), who fell six games behind the New York Mets for the final NL wild card with 11 games left.

Happ's 25th homer, a one-out drive to left on a 103.2 mph fastball from All-Star closer Mason Miller, got Chicago within one in the ninth. But Miller retired Dansby Swanson on a grounder to first before striking out Seiya Suzuki for his 26th save.

Nico Hoerner hit three singles for Chicago, and Michael Busch drove in a run. Jordan Wicks (2-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings.

Oakland rookie Mitch Spence (8-9) pitched five effective innings for his first win since July 27. He permitted two runs and seven hits.

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, right, slaps hands with third base coach Willie Harris as he runs the bases on a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Miles Mastrobuoni, left, is forced out at second by Oakland Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson who throws to first in an attempted double play during the eighth inning of a baseball game ,Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner catches a pop out from Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller reacts to striking out Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki to end the baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Oakland Athletics' Shea Langeliers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)