Red Roses defeat Scotland in Six Nations opener
The Red Roses started their 2022 Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point 57-5 win over Scotland in Edinburgh.
Simon Middleton’s side secured a 19th straight win running in nine tries at DAM Health Stadium to get their Women’s Six Nations title defence off to the perfect start.
Some quick-thinking from Leanne Infante from a penalty was the catalyst for the visitors’ opening try as the England scrum half stormed to within five metres with Marlie Packer on hand to neatly finish it off.
Poppy Cleall doubled the advantage after a glorious offload from Rosie Galligan put the back-rower in under the sticks.
The hosts struck back with a score of their own as a well-timed offload from Hannah Smith out on the wing gave full back Chloe Rollie enough room to cut the deficit to nine.
Middleton’s side re-established their two-score lead after huge carries from England’s pack put them within touching distance of the Scottish line before Heather Cowell dotted it down.
Abby Dow secured the bonus-point with a blistering run from 40 metres out before Packer grabbed her second score of the day moments later from a powerful driving maul to put England in firm control.
The visitors rounded off the first half in style when Emily Scarratt’s precision pass put Bern into acres of space whose brilliant offload allowed Infante to run in unopposed making it 38-5 at the interval.
Scotland recovered well after the break and were unlucky to see Rachel Malcolm’s efforts disallowed after the TMO intervened.
That missed opportunity was compounded when a clever kick from Helena Rowland on the 22 was picked up by Holly Aitchison over the line to claim England’s seventh try of the afternoon.
The Red Roses forwards continued their dominance in the second-half with Connie Powell scoring from another driving maul no less than 20 seconds after coming off the bench to make it two tries from her first two caps.
England’s potent attack continued as substitute Emma Sing sauntered up to the Scotland five metre line from deep in her own half, from which Sarah Hunter’s side worked the ball for Packer to claim her hat-trick from short range to put the seal on a player of the match performance and a convincing 57-5 win.
Middleton’s side have now won their last 24 meetings with Scotland.
Teams
Red Roses
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Heather Cowell
13. Emily Scarratt
12. Holly Aitchison
11. Abby Dow
10. Helena Rowland
9. Leanne Infante
1. Maud Muir
2. Lark Davies
3. Sarah Bern
4. Rosie Galligan
5. Abbie Ward
6. Poppy Cleall
7. Marlie Packer
8. Sarah Hunter (C)
Finishers
16. Connie Powell
17. Vickii Cornborough
18. Bryony Cleall
19. Sarah Beckett
20. Alex Matthews
21. Lucy Packer
22. Amber Reed
23. Emma Sing
Scotland
15. Chloe Rollie
14. Rhona Lloyd
13. Hannah Smith
12. Lisa Thomson
11. Megan Gaffney
10. Helen Nelson
9. Jenny Maxwell
1. Leah Bartlett
2. Lana Skeldon
3. Christine Belisle
4. Emma Wassell
5. Louise McMillan
6. Rachel Malcolm (C)
7. Rachel McLachlan
8. Jade Konkel
Replacements
16. Molly Wright
17. Lisa Cockburn
18. Katie Dougan
19. Lyndsay O'Donnell
20. Eva Donaldson
21. Sarah Law
22. Meryl Smith
23. Shona Campbell
