WNT Fades in Second Half, Loses Nation Cup Match against Canada27/08/2008
BOULDER, Colo. – Despite kicking off to an aggressive start, the USA Women’s National Team lost its final Nations Cup match versus Canada at Esher RFC in Surrey on Tuesday evening. The U.S. Women held possession for the better part of the first half and continued to attack inside Canada’s end, but could not quite finish, sending both teams into the break with the score stuck at 0-0.After switching sides, Canada caught the lead early 3-0 in the second half, off a penalty kick from Anna Schnell and try as they may, the USA Women could not capitalize on penalty opportunities of their own or push forward enough to retaliate.As the game pressed on neither team could get the ball to drop in their favor and the game held at 3-0 until the 75th minute when Canada replacement center Mandy Marchak ran in for the first try of the game, with Julianne Zussman kicking the extras to put the team up 10-0. Finally, inside injury time, Canada’s Maria Gallo finished off the match, darting 40 meters to seal a 15-0 victory for the Canadian side. “We had all of the tools needed for a win and had great practices leading into today’s match, but we suffered because we couldn’t retain possession of the ball and in the second half we stopped going forward,” USA Women’s Head Coach Kathy Flores said after the game.Canada will meet England on Friday, August 29, for a friendly rematch, while the U.S. heads home, with a 0-2 tally in Nations Cup play. The team’s loss against Canada came after an impressive display against the England Women, which saw the two sides battle it out to the bitter end, leading to a 17-14 final in England’s favor. USA 0
1 Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), 2 Mari Wallace (Berkeley All Blues), 3 Jamie Burke (At-Large), 4 Jillion Potter (MN Valkyries), 5 Lara Vivolo (New York), 6 Mel Denham (Berkeley All Blues), 7 Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union), 8 Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All Blues), 9 Kim Magrini (Keystone), 10 Kristin Baja (New York), 11 Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All Blues), 12 Lynelle Kugler (Glendale), 13 San Juanita Moreno (ORSU), 14 Desiree Markovich (Berkeley All Blues), Replacements: 16 Lisa Butts (Davis Women), 17 Stacy Baker (Philadelphia) - in for Burke @ 62 min, 18 Christina Hobson (Morris Rugby), 19 Liz Dilley (Washington Furies) – in for Royce @ 72 min, 20 Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries), 21 Mel Kanuk (Maryland) – in for Moreno @ 65 min, 22 Ashley Kmiecik (Emerald City Mudhens) – in for Marchino @ 55 min
Yellow Card: Kugler @ 47 minCanadian 15
15. Julianne Zussman 14. Brittney Waters (Velox Valkryies) 13. Maria Gallo (At Large) 12. Stevi Schnoor (United) 11. Cheryl Phillips (Toronto Scottish) 10. Anna Schnell (Burnaby Lake) 9. Laura Stoughton (Calgary Irish) 8. Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads) 7. Barbara Mervin (Velox Valkryies) 6. Jennifer Kish (Edmonton Rockers) 4. Paige Burdett (Calgary Irish) 3. Marlene Donaldson (Velox Valkryies) 1. Kim Donaldson (Burnaby Lake)Replacements: 16. Nicole Tyminksi (Edmonton Druids) 17. Leslie Cripps (Saracens _Eng) 18. Heather Jacques (Capilano) 19. Katies Murray (Lep Tigers) 21. Ashley Patzer (Lethbridge) 22. Mandy Marchak (Capilano)Tries: Marchak, Gallo
Conversions: Zussman
PKs: Schnell
Women’s National Team Set for Nations Cup Clash against Canada
26/08/2008
BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby Women’s National Team Head Coach has named the lineup set to face Canada on Tuesday night for the Nations Cup runners-up spot at Esher Rugby Club, outside of London. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. (GMT).
Following a close battle to the finish that saw the U.S. narrowly miss out to England on August 22, Flores has opted to roll on the team’s momentum and named many of the same starters from the Friday evening match.
The pack remains completely intact from the USA versus England match, starting with Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), Mari Wallace (Berkeley All-Blue and Jamie Burke (At-large) leading the charge in the front row.
After putting in an impressive performance out of position on Friday, Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries) has again earned herself a starting spot at lock, where she is joined by Lara Vivolo (New York). Mel Denham (Beantown) and Beckett Royce (ORSU) are in at blindside and openside flanker, respectively, while Blair Groefsema rounds out the pack at Number 8.
The backs showcase four shifts in the starting lineup from the USA’s last match. Kim Magrini (Keystone) retains her spot at scrumhalf, along with flyhalf Kristin Baja (New York) and wing Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All Blues), while Lynelle Kugler (Glendale) shifts over to inside center.
New additions to the starting line-up include, San Juanita Moreno (ORSU) at outside center, Desiree Markovich (Minnesota Valkyries) at wing and veteran Ashley English returns to the team at fullback after sustaining a minor injury while training earlier in the tour.
Reserves include: Lisa Butts (Davis Women), Stacy Baker (Philadelphia), Christina Hobson (New York), Elizabeth Dilley (Washington Furies), Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries), Mel Kanuk (Maryland), Ashley Kmiecik (Emerald City Mudhens).
The staff joining the team for the Nations Cup includes: Head Coach Kathy Flores, Assistant Coach Candi Orsini, Forwards Coach Alex Williams, Backs Coach Krista McFarren, Physician Lisa Bartoli, Athletic Trainer Sarah Percy and Team Manager Ginger Stringer.
USA vs. Canada
1 Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore)
2 Mari Wallace (Berkeley All Blues)
3 Jamie Burke (At-Large)
4 Jillion Potter (MN Valkyries)
5 Lara Vivolo (New York)
6 Mel Denham (Berkeley All Blues)
7 Beckett Royce (Oregon Sports Union)
8 Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All Blues)
9 Kim Magrini (Keystone)
10 Kristin Baja (New York)
11 Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All Blues)
12 Lynelle Kugler (Glendale)
13 San Juanita Moreno (ORSU)
14 Desiree Markovich (Berkeley All Blues)
15 Ashley English (Berkeley All Blues)
Replacements:
16 Lisa Butts (Davis Women)
17 Stacy Baker (Philadelphia)
18 Christina Hobson (Morris Rugby)
19 Liz Dilley (Washington Furies)
20 Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries)
21 Mel Kanuk (Maryland)
22 Ashley Kmiecik (Emerald City Mudhens)
England Women crowned Nations Cup Champions
England 43 - 9 Canada
by Julia Hutton 24/08/2008
England Women added the Nations Cup crown to their already bulging silverware cabinet this season after a hard fought 43-9 victory against Canada on Sunday at Esher RFC.
The reigning RBS 6 Nations and European champions ran in seven tries with Clifton full-back Danielle Waterman and Henley prop Rochelle Clark grabbing braces of tries. The victory secures England the title after a thrilling 17-14 win over the USA on Friday evening.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: “I am immensely proud of the players. To come through three games in six days and win a tournament is a fantastic achievement. This tournament win is about all 30 of our squad players, because all of them have played a massive part in our success.
“Today’s game was tough, but the second-half especially highlighted everything we have been working towards over the last 12 months. The players demonstrated their determination and passion and I’m delighted for them.”
England had to work hard for the win again though, only leading 12-9 at half-time but then an outstanding second-half performance, that saw vice captain and fly-half Katy McLean controlling the game superbly, saw England run riot.
Canada initially pushed ahead in the early stages and were rewarded with a third minute Anna Schnell penalty. But England hit back with Saracens flanker Maggie Alphonsi handing England a 7-5 lead.
Saracens wing Charlotte Barras had come close to touching down, but a high tackle saw England awarded a penalty. McLean dropped the ball in the corner and England then took the clean line-out ball to drive forward, with Alphonsi picking up and charging over the line. McLean converted to take a 7-3 lead.
That advantage was, however, short lived for the home side as Canada clawed back two penalties to take a 9-7 lead with little time left on the clock before half time. England never gave up though, and battled to get the lead back at half-time.
The hosts pressurized Canada’s line and a good line-out, catch and drive so England come close, but they were held up at the line. A well worked scrum followed and England got the ball out to the left wing and a good pass by youngster Emily Scarratt saw Waterman run in to score. McLean missed the conversion but England importantly had a 12-9 lead at half-time.
England and Canada both missed penalties early after the restart, but the home side soon established an important lead after recycling the ball through several phases of play in Canada’s 22. Wasps wing Michaela Staniford then found space and muscled her way over the line. McLean added the conversion to establish a ten point cushion.
England’s run continued and eight minutes later Henley’s Clark drove her way over the line from a good line-out and again McLean converted, before Waterman ran in for another converted try.
Try number six was another great team effort with England relentless in attack and substitute Kat Merchant took the spoils to take a very comfortable 38-9 lead, before prop Clark polished off a great second-half performance with her second try of the afternoon.
England and Canada meet again on Friday evening at Esher RFC for a friendly rematch, while Canada and the USA will play off for the runners-up spot on Tuesday, also at Esher. Both games kick-off at 7pm.
England
1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Katy Storie (Blaydon Team Northumbria), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bath), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 10 Katy McLean (vc) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Charlotte Barras (Saracens), 15 Danielle Waterman (Clifton). Replacements: 16 Emma Layland (Richmond), 17 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 18 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 19 Karen Jones (Richmond), 20 Alice Richardson ( Richmond), 21 Kat Merchant (Worcester), 22 Francesca Matthews (Richmond).
Tries: Alphonsi, Waterman (2), Staniford, Clark (2), Merchant,
Conversions: McLean (4)
Penalties:
Substitutions: Richardson for Oliver (HT), Jones for Hunter (45), Hemming for Storie, Layland for Garnett (both 64), Merchant for Barras (68), Matthews for Staniford (69), Binstead for Taylor (73), Garnett for Spencer (76 blood).
England Women’s team named for Canada Nations Cup clash
by Julia Hutton 23/08/2008
The England Women’s team to take on Canada in the Nations Cup on Sunday at Esher RFC, kick-off 5pm, has today been announced.
England Head Coach Gary Street has unsurprisingly made a handful of changes considering the demanding schedule of games which saw England last play on Friday evening against the USA.
Wasps trio Jo McGilchrist, Michaela Staniford and Amy Turner, Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter, fly-half Katy McLean and Saracens’ Charlotte Barras are the only players to remain in the starting line-up. Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt will make her first start for England.
England head into Sunday’s game gunning for a victory against Canada, hoping to secure the Nations Cup title after a tense 17-14 defeat of the USA on Friday.
Street said: “We needed to make several changes for this game with our last match less than 48 hours ago. It is very important to keep players fresh with such a demanding schedule.
“There’s no doubt Canada will be a tough challenge. We last played them in the semi-finals of the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup and that was a tense match. They are ranked higher than the USA in the world, so I am expecting them to be even more of a challenge for us.”
England
1 Rochelle Clark Henley
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Bath
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean (vc) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Michaela Staniford Wasps
12 Kim Oliver Clifton
13 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
14 Charlotte Barras Saracens
15 Danielle Waterman Clifton
Replacements:
16 Emma Layland Richmond
17 Sophie Hemming Clifton
18 Natalie Binstead Wasps
19 Karen Jones Richmond
20 Alice Richardson Richmond
21 Kat Merchant Worcester
22 Francesca Matthews Richmond
England Women battle to take Nations Cup opener
England 17 USA 14
by Julia Hutton 23/08/2008
England were forced to battle until the bitter end of their Nations Cup curtain raiser game against the USA on Friday night at Esher RFC.
The reigning RBS 6 Nations and European champions faced an altogether different challenge to the US team they played in a friendly fixture on Tuesday and thumped 50-3. The Eagles showed passion and pride to take the game to the hosts and made England throw everything they had to win the tournament opener.
Both sides kicked-off the clash fiercely and although the hosts dominated possession early on, the USA refused to give up and after a physically demanding first 25 minutes the US were awarded a penalty.
Vice captain and fly-half Kristin Baja couldn’t stroke the kick over, but their wing Natalie Marchino followed it up and pounced on the wayward ball to dive under the posts and hand the US a surprise lead. Baja, this time, converted to take a 7-0 lead.
England clawed back three points with a Katy McLean penalty and then capitalised on the loss of US prop Jamie Burke to the sin-bin as they pressurized America’s line.
A well taken line-out, just five metres out from the try-line, saw England spread the ball out-wide through McLean and Amy Turner, who then off-loaded to Michaela Staniford. The Wasps centre then showed her strength to power over the line. With McLean converting England took a 10-7 lead in injury time.
But England’s advantage didn’t last long and the US showed their commitment again after the break by keeping England at bay. They took their chances too, and again were rewarded for it. This time scrum-half and captain Kim Magrini took a quick tap penalty deep in England’s territory and she caught England unaware to run through and score. Baja again added the conversion to hand the Eagles a 14-10 lead with 53 minutes gone.
England, however, responded to the pressure and with super sub Kim Oliver executing a clever off-load to Saracens’ Charlotte Barras, the full-back showed her turn of speed to charge through three defenders and run in and score from 45 metres. Oliver added the conversion to take a 17-14 lead on 64 minutes.
England and the US continued to battle hard and the home side went close to stretching their lead when Staniford made another good break, only to be brought down just short of the line. England instead had to settle for their two tries and take a thrilling 17-14 victory.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: “To take this victory shows the strength of this team. This was a very hard test and we had made 12 changes for the match and that does not help with consistency. However, I thought the team showed tremendous determination, they never gave up and came back and deserved to win.”
England’s Nations Cup campaign continues on Sunday at 5pm at Esher, while the USA and Canada will clash on Tuesday 26th of August. England will also take on Canada in a friendly match on Friday 29th August.
England
1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Emma Layland (Richmond), 3 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 4 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Gemma Sharples (Worcester), 8 Karen Jones (C) (Richmond), 9 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 10 Katy McLean VC (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 12 Amy Turner (Richmond), 13 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Charlotte Barras (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 17 Katy Storie (Blaydon Team Northumbria), 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 19 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 20 Danielle Waterman (Clifton), 21 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton), 22 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Tries: Staniford, Barras
Conversions: McLean, Oliver
Penalties: McLean
Substitutions: Taylor for McGilchrist (HT), Waterman for Rozario, Oliver for McLean (both 47), Roberts for Tuner (52), Alphonsi for Sharples, Storie for Crowley (56), Dale for Layland (70).
England Women’s team announced for Nations Cup curtain raiser
by Julia Hutton 21/08/2008
England Head Coach Gary Street has named his side for the opening game of the Nations Cup, which will see England take on the USA at Esher Rugby Club on Friday evening, kick-off 7pm.
Street has made 12 changes, including three positional, to the starting line-up that took on the US Eagles on Tuesday evening in a warm-up fixture. England triumphed 50-3, running in an impressive eight tries.
Richmond’s Karen Jones takes over the captaincy armband with Bath’s Catherine Spencer rested. Wasps lock Jo McGilchrist is the only forward to start her second consecutive game while Katy McLean starts again at fly-half and is Vice Captain. Wasps duo Amy Turner and Michaela Staniford move into the centre positions, while Saracens’ Charlotte Barras moves to full-back.
Street said: “We have made several changes and this is because we have got to make sure we have enough players in our elite squad who are capable of playing international rugby at a high standard. From selecting this squad I am confident these players will do as good as job as the team on Tuesday did.
“This is the start of the Nations Cup, but for us this match is all about playing as good as rugby as we can. Every game we play is as important as the next and I always expect the players to have the same attitude. The USA are a brave, strong rugby nation and I am sure they’ll be looking to improve their performance against us on Friday evening.”
England’s Nations Cup campaign continues on Sunday at 5pm at Esher also, while the USA and Canada will clash on Tuesday 26th of August. England, the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions, will also take on Canada in a friendly match on Friday 29th August.
England
1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Emma Layland Richmond
3 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
4 Natalie Binstead Wasps
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Gemma Sharples Worcester
8 Karen Jones (C) Richmond
9 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
10 Katy McLean VC Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Amy Turner Richmond
13 Michaela Staniford Wasps
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Dale Worcester
17 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria
18 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
19 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
20 Danielle Waterman Clifton
21 Kimberley Oliver Clifton
22 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Women’s National Team Drops Nations Cup Warm-up Match to England
BOULDER, Colo. – The USA Women’s National Team was dealt a tough blow in its Nations Cup warm-up match versus the England WNT, falling 50-3 at Esher Rugby Club, outside of London on Tuesday evening.After arriving in England on Sunday, August 17, and training at Brunel University in Uxbridge in the interim, the Women’s Eagles faced a quick turnaround to their first competition versus the reigning RBS 6 Nations and European champion England team, which shutout the American side in its last trip to the U.K. in December 2007. However, this time around, the U.S. WNT went into the match looking to provide much stronger opposition. The USA proved a tough opponent in the opening phases of the game, holding England scoreless until the eighth minute when lock Jo McGilchrist started her team’s dominant first half scoring campaign.From then on, the England Women would not be contained, with additional tries from Michaela Staniford, Tamara Taylor, Kim Oliver and Maggie Alphonsi to surge ahead to a 31-3 lead before the half had elapsed. The USA got on the board before the break with a penalty kick from flyhalf Kristen Baja (New York).After switching sides, England refused to back down, outpacing the USA Women for another three tries before the end. England flyhalf Katy McLean had a successful outing, notching five successful conversions on the day in the team’s 50-3 win over the USA.“Although we have improved great deal in our fitness and execution since December, the outcome of today’s match was somewhat expected, following a day of training together in England. However, we will use this match as a benchmark going forward in the Nations Cup competition,” Women’s National Team Head Coach Kathy Flores said. “In the end, England dominated us across the field, but this is a good foundation to build on and we can take away valuable lessons from today’s match.”The U.S. Women next meet England again in the opening match of the Nations Cup, at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2008, also at the Esher Rugby Club. The USA’s second Nations Cup match versus Canada follows at Esher on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.For more information on the USA Women’s National Team, visit www.usarugby.org/goto/women_eagles.
USA - 3
1 Jamie Burke (At-Large), 2 Lisa Butts (Davis Women), 3 Stacy Baker (Philadelphia), 4 Beckett Royce (ORSU), 5 Jillion Potter (Minnesota Valkyries), 6 Liz Dilley (C) (DC Furies), 7 Mel Denham (Beantown), 8 Blair Groefsema (Berkeley All Blues), 9 Katy Hertel (MN Valkyries), 10 Kristin Baja (New York), 11 Desiree Markovich (Minnesota Valkyries), 12 Elise Myer (Maryland Stingers), 13 Emilie Bydwell (Beantown), 14 Vanesha McGee (Philadelphia), 15 Ashley Kmiecik (Seattle Mudhens).
Replacements: 16 Farrah Douglas (Chicago North Shore), 17 Lara Vivolo (New York), 18 Sarah Walsh (Chicago North Shore), 19 Christina Hobson (New York), 20 Katy Hertel (Minnesota Valkyries), 21 Mel Kanuk (Maryland Stingers), 22 Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues)
England Women set the standard for Nations Cup
by Julia Hutton 19/08/2008
England 50 USA 3
England Women warmed up for the inaugural Nations Cup with an impressive and powerful display against the USA at Esher Rugby Club on Tuesday evening.
The reigning RBS 6 Nations and European Champions, who will kick-off their Nations Cup campaign against the USA on Friday, 7pm at Esher also, ran in a blistering eight tries, including one for Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt on her debut. Vice-captain Katy McLean also kicked five conversions to secure the win.
The USA proved dogged opposition in the opening stages and kept England at bay until the eighth minute, and then the flood gates opened.
Wasps lock Jo McGilchrist opened the home side’s account with a great try which started with Saracens’ Charlotte Barras making the break. Barras, playing out on the wing, off-loaded to Danielle Waterman, Amy Turner and Maggie Alphonsi before the ball was crossed to the left wing with flanker Tamara Taylor setting-up McGilchrist who found space to score. McLean converted.
Four minutes later and Staniford handed England a 12-0 lead. England showed great support to secure the try with all of England’s backs involved as well as the ever present Taylor. Centre Georgina Roberts was pulled down just short of the line, but Staniford picked up and ran in to score.
Lock Taylor was in the thick of the action again on 24 minutes when a superb break by Waterman, playing her first international at full-back, set Alphonsi loose. The Saracens flanker looked set to score, but a toe tap saw her tackled to the ground but Taylor was in support and muscled her way over the line. McLean converted to put England into a 19-0 lead.
Try number four came courtesy of Clifton’s Kim Oliver, returning to action after an injury lay-off, while Alphonsi rounded off the first-half for England after a well worked line-out saw the ball recycled across the field and Aphonsi diving over the line.
USA clawed back a penalty in the first-half thanks to fly-half Kristen Baja but they had to settle for a 31-3 deficit at the break.
After the restart England called in the back-up and made six replacements. The changes didn’t unsettle the hosts and Barras soon ran in for a try after a superb break and charge down field.
Young centre Scarratt then underlined her potential with a try on her debut after a line-out saw the backs feed the ball out to the 18-year-old who found the attacking line and scored with ease. McLean converted making the score 43-3 and securing the victory for England.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: “I’m really happy with this performance. We have got a lot to work on, but the style of rugby we want to play was very evident tonight.
“It’s really satisfying to score eight tries against a very physical side but we have got to make sure we are not blasé about this win as we look ahead to Friday’s Nations Cup game.
“Maggie Alphonsi had a tremendous game. She was very busy in the first-half and dominant, and it was great to see a player like Emily Scarratt score on her debut.”
England
1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Katy Storie (Blaydon Team Northumbria), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Beale (Leos), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bath), 9 Amy Turner ( Richmond), 10 Katy McLean (vc) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 14 Charlotte Barras (Saracens), 15 Danielle Waterman (Clifton). Replacements: 16 Emma Layland (Richmond), 17 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 18 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 19 Gemma Sharples (Worcester), 20 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 21 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 22 Francesca Matthews (Richmond)
Tries: McGilchrist, Staniford, Taylor, Oliver, Alphonsi, Barras, Scarratt, Turner
Conversions: McLean (5)
Penalties:
Substitutions: Hemming for Clark, Binstead for McGilchrist, Layland for Garnett, Scarratt for Roberts (all 45), Rozario for Oliver, Sharples for Alphonsi (56), Matthews for Barras (59),
England Women’s team for USA clash announced
By Julia Hutton 14/08/2008
England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has today (Friday) announced his team for their clash against the USA Eagles on Tuesday August 19th at Esher Rugby, kick-off 7pm.
The RBS 6 Nations and European Champions will take on the Eagles as a pre-cursor game to the Nations Cup which gets underway on Friday August 22nd, also at Esher Rugby. The Eagles’ neighbours, Canada, are the other team competing in the Nations Cup and England will face them on Sunday August 24th, kick-off 5pm.
Street has named an experienced starting XV which sees the return of Clifton’s Kim Oliver. The centre was an instrumental member of the team that helped England reach the final of the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup. Since then she has been sidelined with injuries until making her comeback during the European Championships in May.
Bath No. 8 Catherine Spencer is captain once again with Darlington Mowden Park’s Katy McLean taking over as Vice Captain with Saracens’ Rachel Burford currently sidelined.
Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt could also be set to make her England debut after being named on the bench. The 18-year-old has impressed Street and assistant coach Graham Smith after her performances in the Under 20s Nations Cup in Canada in July.
Street said: “Although this is not a Nations Cup game, this is the start of a tough schedule of games. We will play four games in ten days against two sides who are ranked within the top six of world rugby.
“We have named a strong starting team for our first match, but it’s very important we get the balance right over the four games to win and to make sure everyone gets enough game time as we look ahead to next season’s Six Nations also.
“It’s great to have Kim Oliver back in the starting line-up and I am also excited to see Katy as Vice Captain. There is also the possibility that Emily, who has shown tremendous potential this season, could earn her first England cap.”
England last played the USA in December and won 34-0. Street added: “The USA came here last season with lots of new caps. This time around they are going to be more experienced and I am expecting a very different game. They’ll be very competitive opposition and very different opposition to the European sides we are used to playing.”
Entry to Tuesday’s game costs just £4 for adults, £1 for children and adult members get a £1 discount.
England
1 Rochelle Clark Henley
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Beale Leos
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Bath
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean (vc) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Michaela Staniford Wasps
12 Kim Oliver Clifton
13 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
14 Charlotte Barras Saracens
15 Danielle Waterman Clifton
Replacements:
16 Emma Layland Richmond
17 Sophie Hemming Clifton
18 Natalie Binstead Wasps
19 Gemma Sharples Worcester
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
22 Francesca Matthews Richmond