Clinical England score 11 tries in Wales rout

2 years ago 42

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England: (20) 60
Tries: Hardcastle 2, Stanley 2, Hoyle, Beevers, Owen, Roche, Renouf, Bennett, Rudge Goals: Stanley 8
Wales: (0) 0

Lacey Owen enjoyed a dream debut as England ran in 11 tries against Wales at Headingley.

England, playing only their second match since losing in the World Cup semi-final to New Zealand last year, dominated the game, Amy Hardcastle and Tara Stanley scoring twice.

It was a special day for Owen, who scored moments after coming on as a second-half interchange.

The match was played as a double-header with England men's Test against Tonga.

England opened the scoring after nine minutes from their first decent move of the match, working the ball left where Hardcastle scored in acres of space.

Hardcastle, who was one of England's most impressive players in their run to the semi-finals of last year's World Cup on home soil, was in similarly vibrant form and doubled the hosts' advantage.

Georgia Roche evaded the Wales defence and set up the left centre perfectly to score.

The third try came from Shona Hoyle, barrelling over between the posts after good play by captain Jodie Cunningham who was earning her 30th cap.

Wales were unfortunate, defending on the fifth tackle when the ball ricocheted off the shoulder of Hoyle. The referee deemed that a knock-on from the Welsh, and England took advantage.

England were reduced to 14 players when Vicky Molyneux was sin-binned for a high tackle, but after withstanding Welsh pressure they scored a fourth try before half-time - and again it was largely down to Hardcastle.

She broke away and ran almost the whole length of the Headingley pitch, only to be tackled at the last, Georgia Beevers picking up the loose ball to score.

Tara Stanley, who converted seven of the tries, got a score of her own shortly after the restart - before Owen was introduced for her big moment, diving over from Stanley's cut-out pass.

The seventh try was arguably the best of the bunch, Roche selling a wonderful dummy and slaloming through beleaguered Wales defenders, before Stanley, Tamzin Renouf, Keara Bennett and Emily Rudge added to a successful afternoon for England.

More to follow.