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.
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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)
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)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Blaring trumpets and joyful voices resounded in a New Orleans neighborhood this week as about 100 people marched in honor of John “Prince” Gilbert, a key member of innovative brass bands that have become an important part of the city's music scene over the past several decades.
Gilbert, who died last weekend, played the saxophone for Rebirth Brass Band, which has been a favorite in New Orleans since the 1980s. The band is known for preserving and growing the brass band heritage, combining genres including funk, soul and jazz to create their own sound. He also was part of the New Birth Brass Band.
He taught, and recorded with, his son Orlando, who organized Monday evening's second line parade — so called because observers traditionally fall in behind the band and marchers to form a second parade line.
“He’s one of the innovators of New Orleans music, and he’s left an indelible mark on New Orleans culture and is and will always be a part of the history of New Orleans culture,” Orlando said of his father's career.
“My father’s playing was the bedrock of my own musicianship,” he added.
This undated family photo released by Orlando Gilbert shows Orlando with his father John "Prince" Gilbert in younger days. (Orlando Gilbert via AP)
Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician and son of John "Prince" Gilbert, plays and marches in an emotional second line parade, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Musicians and friends form a second line parade organized by Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician, for his father John "Prince" Gilbert, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Orlando Prince, center, a rising jazz musician and son of John "Prince" Gilbert, plays and marches in an emotional second line parade, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Musicians and friends form a second line parade organized by Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician, for his father John "Prince" Gilbert, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician and son of John "Prince" Gilbert, plays and marches in an emotional second line parade, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Musicians and friends form a second line parade organized by Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician, for his father John "Prince" Gilbert, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Musicians and friends form a second line parade organized by Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician, for his father John "Prince" Gilbert, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. John "Prince " Gilbert was a founding member of the Rebirth Brass Band and a fixture in the New Orleans Jazz community for decades. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
This undated family photo released by Orlando Gilbert shows Orlando with his father John "Prince" Gilbert in younger days. (Orlando Gilbert via AP)
Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician and son of John "Prince" Gilbert, plays and marches in an emotional second line parade, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. John "Prince " Gilbert was a founding member of the Rebirth Brass Band and a fixture in the New Orleans Jazz community for decades. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
This undated family photo released by Orlando Gilbert shows Orlando with his father John "Prince" Gilbert in younger days. (Orlando Gilbert via AP)
Orlando Prince, a rising jazz musician and son of John "Prince" Gilbert, plays and marches in an emotional second line parade, as a sendoff for his father who recently died, in the Treme section of New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. John "Prince " Gilbert was a founding member of the Rebirth Brass Band and a fixture in the New Orleans Jazz community for decades. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
