England keep Wales scoreless
Wales failed to score at Esher RFC today, in their opening 6 Nations match against England, which will bolster England’s hopes of winning the 6 Nations for a record fifth consecutive year. By Ciara Ní Ghabhann
credit rugbymatters.net
An impressive five tries from the home side (Fisher, Merchant, Scarratt, McLean, Clark) meant England won 31-0, atoning for their defeat to Wales last year.
Flanker Heather Fisher scored her first ever try just four minutes in to today’s game, after a break from centre Emily Scarratt. Fisher showed her pace and strength in getting over the line, and although McLean missed the conversion, England were off to a good start.
Wales failed to score, but defended well, and kept England waiting-it would be 23 minutes before England scored again.
Thanks to some good work at the breakdown, England turned the ball over at a ruck, and winger Katherine Merchant was the one to touch it down.
England were made to wait again; Wales held them off until the 44th minute, when number 13 Emily Scarratt scored a try. With a conversion from McLean, the score was brought to 17-0.
Wales fullback Non Evans missed a penalty, and the evening went from bad to worse, with their second yellow card of the night.
It was game of firsts, with Fisher scoring her first ever try and vice captain Katy McLean scoring her first international try in the 63rd minute, and converted the try herself, bringing the score to 24-0.
Rochelle Clark, brought on as a substitute, scored a try from a penalty deep in the Wales 22, and with a conversion from McLean, the score was brought to 31-0.
England coach Gary Street said he was very satisfied with the win, describing it as “a good way to start the championship. As always we do all our talking on the pitch and although we were a little rusty because of the winter break we secured a good win against the second best side in Europe. We just had too much power and pace for them”.
A good start to England’s campaign for a fifth consecutive Six Nations, but with only one weekend gone the competition is far from decided.
England
15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 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 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 18 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 19 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 20 Georgina Rozario (Bristol), 21 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 22 Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Tries: Fisher, Merchant, Scarratt, McLean, Clark
Conversions: McLean (2)
Penalties:
Substitutions: Taylor for Essex (14 min, blood), Essex for Taylor (31, blood reversal), Richardson for Burford (47), Clark for Purdy (54), Taylor for Essex (54), Staniford for Pocock (65), Reeve for Garnett (67), Burnfield for Fisher (71), Rozario for Mason (71).
Wales
15 Non Evans (Cardiff Quins), 14 Aimee Young (UWIC), 13 Ceri Redman (UWIC), 12 Clare Flowers (Bristol Ladies), 11 Caryl James (Cardiff Quins), 10 Awen Thomas (Unattached), 9 Amy Day (Bristol Ladies), 1 Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins), 2 Jenny Davies (Waterloo), 3 Hannah Roberts (UWIC), 4 Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), 5 Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins), 6 Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), 7 Jamie Kift (Bristol Ladies), 8 Mellissa Berry (Blaydon) (captain). Replacements: 16 Clare Horgan (Saracens), 17 Becky Newton (Cardiff Quins), 18 Claire Donovan (Saracens), 19 Louise Horgan (Saracens), 20 Laura Prosser (Cardiff Quins), 21 Elinor Snowsill (Loughborough), 22 Louise Rickard (Saracens)
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties:
Half time score: England 17 Wales 0
Referee: David Keane (IRFU)
