New Zealand have beaten Australia 14-6 to remain unbeaten at the women’s rugby league world cup in England and take a psychological edge into the final.

The trans-Tasman rivals, who will meet in the tournament final on Sunday, were locked 6-6 at halftime at Batley before late tries to playmaker Nora Maaka and centre Honey Hireme pushed the defending champion Kiwi Ferns clear.

Wing Tarah Westera opened the scoring for the Jillaroos but prop Amber Hall responded for New Zealand 10 minutes before the break in a match played in hot evening conditions.

Maaka produced a nice sidestep to score before captain Hireme dived over in the corner in the closing minutes for her seventh try of the tournament.

New Zealand, who beat England 34-16 and France 88-0 in their earlier games, are seeking to maintain their perfect World Cup record, having won all three previous events.

They beat Australia 34-0 in the 2008 final in Brisbane.

Black Ferns coach Lynley Tierney-Mani said there was room for improvement from her side.

“Our completion rate wasn’t where we wanted it to be, but we stuck to our plan of giving every player in the squad a match in the tournament and that has given us some nice selection headaches for the final,” she said.

“The Australians play a quick game but I think we matched them for speed and we had the edge for physicality.”

The Australian Jillaroos rested six of their top players, also giving every player in the squad an opportunity to get some game time.

“That is the best defensive effort I have seen from an Australian women’s team,” coach Paul Dyer said after the game.

“We will have to improve but we are right in this world cup.”