administrator

England Women 60 Scotland Women 0
Defending RBS Six Nations Grand Slam champions England kicked-off their campaign at a furious pace today (Saturday), running in 10 tries as they saw off Scotland 60-0 at Old Albanians RFC.
2006 Rugby World Cup finalist Charlotte Barras of Saracens christened her performance with a hat-trick of tries while club and country teammate Claire Allan also marked her England debut with a touchdown. Skipper Sue Day led by example with a brace of tries while Karen Andrew, Danielle Waterman, Catherine Spencer and Maggie Alphonsi all claimed scores.
Wasps wing Day, captaining her country for her first RBS Six Nations tournament, put England on a firm footing just minutes into the game with a fifth minute try. The 34-year-old made the most of some good handling from the backline to charge 30 metres up-field and then see off a one-on-one tackle to break the Scot’s try-line.
Allen’s first ever touchdown for England came just seven minutes later. The Saracens centre, clearly at ease playing for the elite squad, was set-up by her fellow backs and, after fending off a tackle, she drove through Scotland’s defence and under the posts. With Saracen fly-half Karen Andrew stroking the conversion over England led 12-0 after as many minutes.
IRB Female Personality of the Year Alphonsi was a key figure in helping England bank their next try, executing a crunching tackle in the mid-field to create a turn-over. The ball was recycled out to the right wing and then Clifton back Waterman pounced on the ball to beat three defenders before cruising over for an impressive score.
With Scotland prop Lynne Reid sin-binned on 25 minutes matters began to worsen for the tourists with Saracen fullback Barras claiming her first try of the afternoon just before the break. Once again it was the forwards’ hard-work that set-up England’s backline with Barras, in scintillating form, chipping over Scotland’s defence to gather and touchdown. Andrew converted to put England 24-0 up at half-time.
The one way traffic continued after the break with Day claiming her second try thanks to some more impressive forward continuity and England’s backs safe hands. Andrew missed the conversion, but it did not matter as she soon touched down for her own converted try.
On the stroke of 60 minutes a great break from Rachel Burford saw the Saracens centre cut through Scotland’s defence. She was tackled 20 metres out, but the forwards recycled the ball out to the right wing and, after some great handling from the backs, Barras bounded over the line for try number two.
The 25-year-old didn’t have to wait long to claim her hat-trick with Scotland’s defence crumbling after England swarmed all over them. Finally their line broke again and Barras piled over on 65 minutes.
Worcester no. 8 Catherine Spencer claimed a deserved try for the forwards on 70 metres, which flanker Alphonsi soon matched her efforts in injury time. With substitute Katy McLean adding the conversion England took the 60-0 victory in style.
England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards said: “This was a really pleasing performance especially considering the short preparation period we have had. The team have gelled well and produced some exciting rugby today with lots of tries. It is also great to see eight new caps come on the field today, all of which came on and played their part. This is a great start to our defence of the RBS Six Nations.”
England
1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Katy Storie (Blaydon), 4 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk), 5 Jo McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 7 Maggie Alphonsi (VC) (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (Worcester), 9 Susie Appleby (Clifton), 10 Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11 Danielle Waterman (Clifton), 12 Rachel Burford (Saracens), 13 Claire Allan (Saracens), 14 Sue Day (Wasps) (c), 15 Charlotte Barras (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Emma Layland (Richmond), 17 Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 18 Sarah Beale (Leos), 19 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 20 Katy McLean (Thirsk), 21 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 22 Amber Penrith (Cardiff Quins)
Tries: Day (2), Allen, Waterman, Barras (3), Andrew, Spencer, Alphonsi
Conversions: Andrew (4), McLean.
Penalties:
Substitutions: Gary on for Storie (64), Penrith on for Appleby (70), Layland on for Garnett (70), Beale on for Spencer (70), Hunter for Stevens (75), Staniford for Allen (75), McLean for Andrew (75)
Scotland
1 Lynne Reid (Royal High Costorphine), 2 Gail Russell (Hillhead Jordanhill), 3 Gillian McCord (Royal High Costorphine), 4 Lindsay Wheeler (Murrayfield Wanderers), 5 Louise Moffat (Kirkcaldy), 6 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), 7 Susie Brown (Hillhead Jordanhill), 8 Donna Kennedy (Royal High Costorphine) (C), 9 Louise Dalgliesh (Royal High Costorphine), 10 Erin Kerr (Richmond), 11 Tanya Griffith (Royal High Costorphine), 12 Susi Newton (Blaydon), 13 Donna McGrellis (Kirkcaldy), 14 Cara D’Silva (Kirkcaldy), 15 Lucy Millard (Murrayfield Wanderers). Replacements: 16 Sarah-Louise Walker (Watonsonians), 17 Beth ****ens (Murrayfield Wanderers), 18 Lana Blyth (Murrayfield Wanderers), 19 Sonia Cull (Royal High Costorphine), 20 Rachael Nicolson (Hillhead Jordanhill), 21 Anna Panayotopoulos (Edinburgh University), 22 Hazel Bielinski (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties:
Substitutions:
Half-time score: England Women 24 Scotland Women 0
Referee: Ger English (IRFU)
Touch Judge 1: Nick Clarke, Suffolk
Touch Judge 2: Ken Morgan, Essex
England Six Nations Fixtures:
England v Scotland, February 3rd, kick-off 230pm at Old Albanians RFC WON 60-0
England v Italy, February 10th, kick-off 415pm at Twickenham
Ireland v England, February 26th, kick-off 2pm at Thomond Park, Limerick
England v France, March 11th, kick-off 145pm at Old Albanians RFC
Wales v England, March 17th, kick-off 230pm at Taffs Wells, near Cardiff RFC
Ends…

Attached Images

Eng v Scot 2 20070203 red.jpg (22.5 KB, 4 views)