An Abigail Roache hat-trick has helped lead the Kiwi Ferns to a 28-10 win over Tonga, who were forced to finish the game with a numbers disadvantage after Ilaisaane Taufa was sent from the pitch.
The interchange forward was shown a red card with about half an hour left in the game following a hip-drop style tackle, which saw her Kiwi Ferns counterpart Amelia Pasikala leave the Eden Park turf with a suspected broken leg and her side 16-6 ahead.
The sending-off ended any chance of a Tongan fightback, with the Kiwi Ferns running in three tries after the incident to ultimately claim a comfortable win.
The Kiwi Ferns started with a flourish as Roache had crossed the line twice within the opening 11 minutes to give the side a comfortable lead.
Tonga hit back through captain Tiana Penitani, scoring the first of her two tries off the back of a Kiwi Ferns’ error.