Japan Beat Spain To Finish World Cup On High

Women's Rugby World Cup - Pool C

Japan (5) 29

Tries: Nishimura, Nagata, Kitano, Imakugi, Nduka Cons: Otsuka, Yamamoto

Spain (14) 21

Tries: Blanco, Castelo, Martinez Cons: Argudo 2, Pena

Japan ended their Women's Rugby World Cup run pinch a memorable triumph complete Spain successful York.

The bottommost 2 classed sides successful Pool C had already grounded to suffice for nan knockout stages aft losing their opening 2 games successful England.

Japan, who started pinch gait and urgency, scored nan opening effort done full-back Sora Nishimura.

Spain responded pinch 2 tries nether nan posts from hooker Cristina Blanco Herrera and fastener Monica Castelo to lead astatine half-time.

But Lesley McKenzie's persistent broadside took nan lead successful nan 2nd half pinch tries from skipper Iroha Nagata and prop Wako Kitano.

Japan extended their advantage pinch a composed effort from helping Komachi Imakugi and number 8 Jennifer Nduka.

Juan Gonzalez's broadside vanished pinch a last effort from Victoria Rosell Martinez.

"Spain had tremendous unit connected america passim nan crippled but I consciousness we were capable to time off everything retired there. We performed everything that we person prepared for today," said Japan skipper Nagata.

"This capacity is for nan adjacent procreation of girls successful Japan rugby. I'm really happy to get nan consequence coming that leads america into nan early pinch nan adjacent generation."

The crippled was a proud juncture for referee Sara Cox, who became nan first female to officiate 50 Tests.

Japan: Nishimura; Matsumura, Furuta, Hirotsu, Imakugi; Otsuka, Abe; Kato, Kuge, Kitano, Sato, Yoshimura, Kawamura, Nagata (capt), Nduka.

Replacements: Taniguchi, Mine, Nagata, Sakurai, Saito, Tsukui, Yamamoto, Kagawa.

Spain: Argudo; C Perez, Hidalgo, Ducher, Piquero; Z Perez, De Corres; Antolinez, Blanco (capt), Bracic, Castelo, Alameda, Baquet, Garcia, Capell.

Replacements: Roman, Silva, De Andres, Martinez, Marquez, Piqueras, Bueriberi, Cortes.

Referee: Sara Cox (England)

Assistant referees: Holly Wood (England) and Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)

TMO: Ian Tempest (England)