England women went down 16-3 to New Zealand at Esher RFC on Saturday.

England had just a Katy McLean penalty to show for their efforts as they were outplayed for long periods.

They have the chance to gain revenge in the Investec Challenge double header at Twickenham this Saturday (4.45pm).

Head coach Gary Street said: “This game was a real fact finder for us ahead of the World Cup in 2010, and more immediately next Saturday.

"We are not a side that lose often, and despite that I am upbeat. We have found out today that they are not super human and we are certainly ready to fight again next Saturday.

"I would have liked better playing conditions today. The wind was problematic and it would have been good if we could have got our solar power backs going, but that's no excuse.

"For 30 minutes of the game we were only 3-0 down, and if we had matched that I think it would have been a different story.

"Instead we made errors and they added a second penalty and a try just before half time. Then we were left chasing our tails."

Both sides made a ferocious start and, after captain Catherine Spence made a good break from the back of a scrum, Worcester flanker Heather Fisher took it on and made a superb break to get the home side in New Zealand's 22 but the tourists held firm and closed the opportunity out.

Instead, New Zealand soon had their first chance at goal but the wind this time played to England's advantage and their fly half Rebecca Mahony couldn't convert. She did however just moments later on 14 minutes.

England again showed how powerful they can be in attack with another good pick up from Spencer. Fisher again showed her pace, and with the ball then moving through the midfield Richmond centre Claire Allan was pulled down just short of the line.

New Zealand continued to match England's efforts and clawed their way to a 6-0 advantage with a second penalty goal after half an hour.

They were not deterred either when they lost flanker Justine Lavea to the sin-bin, and their No. 8 Casey Robertson minutes later.

England, however, didn't take advantage of the two player advantage and in fact it was New Zealand that crossed for the one and only try of the afternoon.

A well-worked line-out in England's 22, with a ruck following, saw the ball popped out to centre Amiria Rule who found a space and dived over the line. Mahony added the conversion to take a 13-0 lead into the break.

England came back out strongly and continued to threaten with some powerful runs by Saracens full back Charlotte Barras, and some great tackles by scrum half Amy Turner and flanker Maggie Alphonsi.

Allan was also tight in defence but England had too much work to do, and dropped to a 16-0 deficit after another penalty goal on 46 minutes.

Vice captain Katy McLean had her first chance at goal on 57 minutes, but the wind proved the deciding factor for that kick.

She was able to add three points minutes later, but a third kick also went astray on 66 minutes. Instead England held firm and kept pushing in attack, but their efforts went unrewarded.

England: 15 Charlotte Barras (Saracens), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Claire Allan (Richmond) , 12 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps) 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol). Replacements: 16 Sam Reeve (Worcester), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 19 Jane Leonard (Team Northumbria / Army), 20 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 21 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 22 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)

Penalties: McLean Substitutions: Burford for Richardson (49), Taylor for Essex (60), Leonard for Fisher (62), Reeve for Garnett (68), Mason for Turner (71), Crowley for Purdy (76).