MALTON and Norton product Zoe Aldcroft won the Mastercard player-of-the-match award as England beat Canada 26-19 to qualify for the Women's World Cup final.

Aldcroft made a joint-match-high 20 tackles, alongside Sarah Bern, at a success rate of 87 per cent and also came up with the match's sole lineout steal.

In attack, the second-row made 31 metres, beat three defenders and won one lineout.

The 25-year-old was one of two Malton products in the England 15, with Tatyana Heard lining up at centre at Auckland's Eden Park.

Tournament favourites England have now qualified for a sixth straight World Cup final.

Two Abigail Dow tries combined with Marlie Packer’s opener. Emily Scarratt decisively scored one conversion and three penalty goals.

Canada also scored three tries - through Karen Paquin, Alysha Corrigan and Tyson Beukeboom - with Sophie De Goede twice converting.

Aldcroft said: "That was absolutely brutal. I had to put up an absolute massive fight and we had to work for absolutely everything. It was so tough.

"To get to the World Cup final means so much. It's what we came here to do and we've been fighting for absolutely everything.

"We know we still have to do that and that we've got one more job now."

England face record-five-time world champions New Zealand in Saturday’s final at Eden Park (6.30am UK time).

The Black Ferns edged past France 25-24 in their final four tie.

Fellow ex-Malton junior Morwenna Talling was not selected in the England 23.