WING Lydia Thompson was sensationally red-carded as England’s 14 Red Roses wilted at the death in the World Cup final.
Harlequins hooker Amy Cokayne grabbed a hat-trick but Simon Middleton’s side could not cope a player down in the end.
Kiwi sub Ayesha Leti-l’iga scored the gamebreaker with nine minutes but England had a chance to win but botched a line out with time up.
Thompson was sent off for a head-on-head challenge on opposite number Portia Woodman after just 18 minutes.
Referee Hollie Davidson had no option but to send Worcester’s Thompson on the long walk to the dressing room and England’s game plan looked up in smoke.