The Black Ferns have been made to work hard for a scrappy win in their last match before the World Cup on home soil.
Photo: Sarah Reed / www.photosportnz
New Zealand completed a 2-0 series triumph over Australia with a 22-14 victory in their second O'Reilly Cup clash in Adelaide on Saturday.
Coming off a 52-5 win in the first test in Christchurch last weekend, the Black Ferns weren't able to establish anywhere near that level of dominance against a much-improved Wallaroos side.
The visitors scored three tries but otherwise weren't able to capitalise on numerous opportunities as the Australian defence took a huge step up from the series opener.
Ayesha Leti-I'iga of the Black Ferns on the charge at the Adelaide Oval. Photo: Sarah Reed / www.photosportnz
The Wallaroos started the second test as they ended the first, a converted try to winger Bienne Terita giving them an early 7-0 lead.
A penalty from captain Ruahei Demant and a converted try to hooker Luka Connor eventually put New Zealand in front and gave them a 10-7 lead at halftime.
Second-half tries to lock Joanah Ngan-Woo and openside flanker Kendra Reynolds extended that advantage to 15 points.
But it was Australia who finished with a flourish, Terita flying over for an impressive second try to reduce the final margin to just eight.
The two teams start their World Cup campaigns with a trans-Tasman clash in six weeks' time, the match at Eden Park to be played on October 8.