New Zealand have been crowned IRB Women's Rugby World Cup champions for an unprecedented third time after a hard fought but pulsating 25-17 defeat of England at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.
A try by full back Amiria Marsh in the final minute eased any nerves that may have been setting in for the Black Ferns after England kept alive their hopes of snatching victory with a 77th minute try by replacement Helen Clayton.
However it was not to be their day again - just as it was not four years earlier when they lost 19-9 in the final - as the New Zealand celebrations began to mark not only three in a row, but a 14th straight Women's RWC victory that ensured captain Farah Palmer lifted the trophy again before retiring.
It was England who drew first blood in the match with a third minute penalty by fly half Karen Andrew, their reward for taking it straight to the two-time defending champions and signalling their intentions for the game.
Black Ferns scrum half Emma Jensen missed a ninth minute penalty before a knock on metres from her own line by full back Amiria Marsh put her side under pressure. England though could not turn it into points and New Zealand stole the ball to clear their lines.
Perfectly weighted
Andrews missed the chance to stretch England's lead with a failed penalty attempt after 16 minutes, allowing Jensen to leave the score with her first successful kick of the game seven minutes later.
A second penalty miss by Jensen seemed to mean the half time score would be locked at 3-3 with neither side willing to give the other an inch in a fiercely competitive match which highlighted the strengths of the women's game.
However a wonderfully deft cross field kick by Marsh, who had a few minutes earlier received lengthy treatment on what appeared to be a hip injury, found a gap on the right and it was worked through for Monalisa Codling, playing in her third Women's RWC final, to run to score the opening try of the showpiece.
Jensen added the conversion to make it 10-3 and a long range penalty miss by Andrews for England meant that was the half time score. It would not remain that way for long though, as in the opening minute Melissa Ruscoe found wing Stephanie Mortimer who had the pace to cross.
England though came back at the Black Ferns and were rewarded for some intense pressure on their line when referee Simon McDowell awarded them a penalty try, sparking celebrations among the England front row.
Nailbiting finale
That brought the score to 15-10 and it remained that way for some 20 minutes of end to end action, although Mortimer came close to grabbing a second try but put a foot in touch before being bundled into the flag by an desperate England tackle.
The New Zealand pressure finally told though when lock Victoria Heighway collected off the top of the lineout and was driven over by her fellow forwards for her second try of the tournament, stretching their lead to 20-10 after Jensen's conversion came back off the post.
England though, desperate to avoid another bitter final defeat, continued to fight and got the try they craved when replacement Helen Clayton was pushed over, the flanker twisting round to touch the ball down behind her.
Shelley Rae's conversion brought them to within three points with less than three minutes remaining and as the possibility of an extra time forcing score came to mind, New Zealand had the final say with a break by Mortimer finding Marsh with the pace and space to score.
Jensen missed the conversion, but it didn't matter as within seconds the celebrations were under way for the Black Ferns with a 14th straight Women's RWC victory and, more importantly, a third world crown to send captain Farah Palmer into retirement with.