English Woman beat Wales
| England Women 35 – 3 Wales Women
EMILY SCARRATT scored 20 points for England as they defeated Wales at Twickenham Stoop this evening to keep the pressure on France at the top of the Six Nations table. Following their 17-10 victory over Ireland at Twickenham two weeks ago, Head Coach Gary Street called for improved execution and his side certainly delivered with a confident and exciting attacking performance. It was the Scarratt show in the first half but Natasha Brennan was the story of the second – making a dream start to her senior England debut, scoring with her first touch of the ball. Both teams made a bright start with Wales enjoying the greater possession but England using the boot to create a platform for the counter attack. Two penalties from Scarratt within the first 20 minutes gave the home side a 6-0 lead but Wales responded moments later with three points of their own. England’s first try came when fractured play allowed Amber Reed to dart through the Welsh defence. Scarratt covered the ground down the wing and touched down under the posts before converting five into seven points. For a period Wales made it difficult for England to build momentum by forcing errors through a pressured defence but on the half hour the women in white began to get into their stride and look dangerous in attack. Good work by the forwards at the breakdown delivered clean ball for the backs who sent the ball across the width of the field. Full of confidence, Scarratt backed herself and took a number of Welsh players over the line in the corner for her second try. England still had more to offer and with minutes remaining, Kat Merchant showed her pace on the far side before great hands from Burford and a perfectly weighted pass from Scarratt allowed Kay Wilson to touch down on the opposite wing giving the home side a 23-3 half time lead. Scarratt made an immediate impact after the re-start beating half the Welsh team as she ran from just inside the half towards the posts, but was tackled a metre from the line. Alphonsi was there in support to pick and go but was also denied by a last ditch defensive effort from Wales. Star of England Sevens, replacement Brennan was next to score crossing in the corner to mark her first cap for the XVs after a number of strong scrums by the forwards just in front of the posts. The momentum continued for England with all the play in the Welsh half but by applying numbers at the breakdown, the visitors were able to do enough to slow down England’s ball. Alphonsi eventually got the score board ticking over again on 73 minutes with England’s fifth try, which player of the match Scarratt converted for a 35-3 victory. Head Coach Gary Street said: “Wales are a difficult side to play against and in giving away a number of penalties they disrupted our rhythm. It was important that we had good go forward ball – we needed to dominate territory and build momentum – before going wide where we knew we had the pace. We are in a good place heading into the final weekend and the match against Italy. We have a raft of very talented players not in tonight’s squad still knocking on the door for consideration on Monday.” “I’m really pleased with the energy that the substitutions added. Ceri Large in particular made a real impact when she came on in place of captain Katy Mclean and I was overjoyed for Natasha Brennan who scored on first international debut at XVs.” England Scores: Substitutions: Fleetwood on for Croker (46 mins), Acheson on for Clark (56 mins), Keates on for Hemming (56 mins) , McGilchrist on for Essex (56 mins) , Gallagher on for Packer (59 mins), Hunt on for Mason (46 mins), Large on for Mclean (56 mins), Brennan on for Wilson (46 mins) Wales Scores: Referee: Jess Beard England’s Six Nations Fixtures: Saturday, Feb 1 – France 18 England 6, Stade des Alpes |
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