KEY POINTS:
New Zealand completed their pool assignments with maximum points after comprehensively beating England 34-13 at the under-19 rugby world championship in Northern Ireland today.
It was their third successive bonus point victory of the tournament, saw them top their division and earn a semifinal berth against Wales on Wednesday (NZT).
The other semifinal features Australia and South Africa.
New Zealand led 10-3 at halftime today and it looked as England would push them all the way, only for the 2005 and 2006 runners-up to clear out after the break with another four tries.
With England eager to stop the New Zealand forwards, their defence was having to over commit numbers to the tackle area and as a result were found wanting out wide when centre Ryan Crotty punished a poor kick by scoring the first try of the match from 22m out.
First five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick added the conversion to give New Zealand a 7-0 advantage after 7-0 before English fullback Alex Goode landed a penalty.
The remaining scoring in the half came via a penalty to Kirkpatrick.
England reduced the deficit to 6-10 after the restart before wing Kade Poki wriggled over the line to give New Zealand a 17-6 lead after Kirkpatrick's conversion.
New Zealand settled the issue by scoring three quick tries to Wayne Ngaluafe, Poki and right wing Zach Guildford.
New Zealand coach Kieran Crowley and captain Chris Smith voiced satisfaction with both the result and the manner it was achieved.
"It took the first half of the game for us to get used to the English pressure defence," Crowley said.
"I am pleased with the way the guys performed in the second period and we will now focus on the semi final ahead."
Smith voiced similar sentiments.
"We played our game the whole way through. We eventually ground them down and the scores came in the second half. We are not getting carried away as we still have a lot of things to work on."
New Zealand will enter the semifinal in a confident frame of mind, having already beaten Wales 37-14 during the pool phase.
- NZPA
