England Women march to second Six Nations Victory

Saturday February 13, 2010 Issued by Julia Hutton

England captain Catherine Spencer scores two tries in Italy victory Italy 0 England 41 England Women recorded their second successive win in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday against Italy and once again kept their rivals to nil points with a 41-0 victory in Parma. The Red Roses ran in an impressive seven tries with captain Catherine Spencer leading by example grabbing a brace of tries. There were also touch downs for Michaela Staniford, Fiona Pocock, Rochelle Clark, Heather Fisher and Maggie Alphonsi. England Assistant Coach Graham Smith said: "The effort the players put in today was as ever excellent. Italy really made us work hard for this win, and for us this is certainly the most difficult year for us to try and win the Six Nations so we are really pleased with the result. "At times our execution wasn't always there and we needed to pay more attention to detail - we were certainly not as fluid as we were against Wales - but overall our scrummaging worked really well and all four of our wings made a massive contribution to the victory." England made an immediate impression on the game and scored after just three minutes with Michaela Staniford, starting her first game for England in a year, touching down. A turn over at the line out saw the forwards get their chance to drive and over power the Italians, with the ball then popped out down the line to Staniford on the right wing. Alice Richardson missed the conversion. Five minutes later and England were 12-0 up with wing Pocock this time taking the points. After the ball came off the top of a line-out it went through the slick hands of the backs and out to Pocock who touched down with ease. This time Richardson added the conversion. Prop Rochelle Clark then secured her second try in two games taking the ball from the back of a ruck to drive over before Bristol No. 8 Spencer claimed her first try with a classic Spencer pick-up from the back of a scrum and charge over, handing England a 22-0 lead at the break. England made a raft of changes during half time giving wingers Amber Penrith and Fran Matthews, who had been called up from the England A set-up, their chance. Alphonsi and hooker Samantha Reeve also took to the field, but it was Worcester's Heather Fisher who took the next try. The flanker, who scored her first try ever for England seven days ago against Wales, showed her turn of speed after a line-out, and then a good England attack in midfield, to outflank Italy's defence and score. Richardson added the conversion taking England into a 29-0 lead. England had to wait until the 70th minute for their next score which saw a good catch and drive from a line-out hand Alphonsi the chance to pick up from the back of the ruck and score. This time Katy McLean added the conversion. The final try came courtesy of skipper Spencer who recreated her first half effort with another pick and charge from a scrum, handing England the 41-0 victory and a 100 percent clean sheet in the tournament so far. England now have a two week break until they are back in Six Nations action against Ireland at Esher RFC on February 28th. England 15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Jane Leonard (Lichfield), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol), Replacements: 16 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 18 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 19 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 20 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 21 Francesca Matthews (Richmond), 22 Amber Penrith (Bristol). Tries: Staniford, Pocock, Clark, Spencer (2), Fisher, Alphonsi, Conversions: Richardson (2), McLean Penalties: Substitutions: Alphonsi for Leonard, Penrith for Staniford, Matthews for Pocock, Reeve for Garnett (all HT), McLean for Burford, Hemming for Purdy (both 65), McGilchrist for Essex (70)

Two tries hand England A Women victory over Spain

14 February 2010

 

England A Women ran in two tries to secure a 10-5 victory against Spain in Gijon on Sunday.

England and Worcester wing Katherine Merchant and Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ Jenny Edwards touched down for the tries to hand England A their second win in eight days.

England A Head Coach Mike Barnett said: "This was a very tough game and Spain made us work really hard for the victory. The wet conditions made the game tricky as both sides made too many handling errors, but we defended well and put a lot of pressure on them, and when we could keep the ball we scored.

"Spain are a very passionate and committed team so I am really pleased that we managed to grind out this win, and there were also some good performances from our young players who made a real impression on the match."

England A had to overcome the loss of centre Abigail Chamberlain early on when she suffered an injury, but they kept their composure to secure a 5-0 lead at half time. It was England winger Merchant, who last weekend also touched down for England in the RBS 6 Nations, who put the points on the board.

A good break by forward Rowena Burnfield, who was also involved in last week’s Six Nations victory, saw England gain vital space into Spain’s 22. Burnfield then brushed off several tackles to off load to Bristol’s Kim Oliver, and then Merchant who made the final yards. Natasha Hunt couldn’t add the conversion.

Barnett made a raft of changes after the break bringing on all his replacements, but England had to wait until the 75^th minute to make any more impression on the score-board. This time a good passage of play saw the ball recycled out from the left to the right wing, and Edwards who worked hard across the paddock came across to score in the corner. The conversion was again missed.

Spain, however, didn’t give up and their hard work was rewarded in the final play of the game. A good break by Barbara Pla saw her come close to scoring, but she was tackled to the ground, but kept the momentum going by popping the ball up to scrum half Isabel Rodriquez who scored. With Spain missing the conversion England took the 10-5 victory.

15 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 11Natasha Hunt (Bristol), 10    Danielle Knight (Lichfield), 9 Georgina Rozario (Bristol), 1 Laura  Keates (Worcester), 2 Emma Layland (Richmond), 3 Katy Storie (Team Northumbria), 4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 5 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 6 Gemma Sharples (Worcester), 7 Sonia Green (C) (Saracens), 8 Karen Jones (Worcester)

Replacements: 16 Victoria  Fleetwood (Lichfield), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Jenny Brightmore (Worcester), 19 Marlie Packer (Bristol), 20 Sarah Guest  (Worcester), 21 Rose Fong (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 22 Jennifer Edwards (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks).