England Women 55 Wales Women 0
In the end it turned into a rout on the scoreboard, with England Women running in nine tries, as they converted a 24-0 interval lead into an even more impressive final result. Wales Women had battled bravely in the first twenty minutes resisting consistent attacking moves from their hosts.
Charlotte Barras opened the scoring and then the English assault took a foothold. Saracens centre Claire Allan ran in a hat-trick of tries and there were also touchdowns for Catherine Spencer, Sarah Hunter, Michaela Staniford, Jane Leonard and Katherine Merchant.
“We exerted so much pressure in the first half, but we couldn’t turn it into points. I don’t think the final scoreline was a fair reflection of the effort we made,” said Wales Women skipper Mel Berry.
“This was always going to be a huge task for us, but we can still go into next Sunday’s clash with Scotland Women at Taffs Well with plenty of heart. It was our goal at the start of the championship to finish in the top two places and that is still achievable.”
Scorers
England Women:
Tries: C Allan (3), C Barras, C Spencer, S Hunter, M Staniford, K Merchant, J Leonard
Cons: K McLean (3), A Richardson (2)
England Women:
15. Charlotte Barras (Saracens)
14. Danielle Waterman (Clifton)
13. Claire Allan (Saracens)
12. Rachael Burford (Saracens)
11. Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
10. Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
09. Amy Turner (Richmond)
01. Rochelle Clark (Henley)
02. Amy Garnett (Saracens)
03. Katy Storie (Blaydon)
04. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
05. Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps)
06. Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)
07. Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
08. Catherine Spencer (Captain) (Worcester)
Replacements:
16. Emma Layland (Richmond)
17. Sophie Hemming (Clifton)
18. Sarah Beale (Leos)
19. Jane Leonard (Wasps/Army)
20. Alice Richardson (Richmond)
21. Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
22. Victoria Massarella (Saracens)
Wales Women:
15. Non Evans
14. Louise Rickard
13. Rachel Poolman
12 Clare Flowers (Vice Captain)
11. Hayley Baxter
10. Naomi Thomas
09. Amy Day
01. Louise Horgan
02. Rhian Bowden
03. Jenny Davies
04. Gemma Hallett
05. Claire Donovan
06. Catrina Nicholas
07. Nicola Evans
08. Mellissa Berry (Captain)
Replacements:
16. Claire Horgan
17. Ruth Evans
18. Rachel Taylor
19. Jenny Doyle
20. Laura Prosser
21. Awen Thomas
22. Michaela Reed
