Wales has been knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarterfinals by defending champions New Zealand.
Before their adoring fans, the Black Ferns were on fire, scoring nine tries.
Wales fought valiantly but could only muster a Keira Bevan penalty.
The hosts will face France in the semi-finals at Eden Park next Saturday, while Wales will leave with only one victory, over Scotland.
Wing Portia Woodman scored two tries for New Zealand, becoming the Rugby World Cup’s all-time leading try scorer, surpassing England’s Sue Day.
Her sixth and seventh tournament tries cost the 31-year-old.
Another large crowd gathered in Whangarei as the tournament entered the knockout stages, and underdogs Wales demonstrated their fighting spirit by advancing towards the Haka. In their previous pool meeting, they had remained motionless.
Wales started the game brightly, and had a chance to take the lead, but Elinor Snowsill pushed a relatively simple penalty attempt wide.
They held off the Black Ferns until the 12th minute, when quick hands saw the ball sent out wide to Woodman, who added the touchline conversion.
Wales responded immediately by winning a penalty, Bevan’s 30-meter effort sailing over, just as it did in the 84th minute of their opening win over Scotland.
Reference: BBC Sports
