Red Roses defeat Wales in Bristol
The Red Roses beat Wales 73-7 to make it 25 wins in a row in their final Summer Nations Series match.
The record breaking feat sees them eclipse Cyprus Men to boast the most consecutive wins by an international side.
In front of a crowd of 11,691 at Ashton Gate in Bristol, Simon Middleton’s side ran in eleven tries in their final match before the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.
- Red Roses: Tries - Rowland (3), Scarratt (2), Packer, PT, Kildunne, Cokayne, Botterman, Matthews | Cons - Scarratt (5), Rowland (2), Reed.
- Wales: Tries - Crabb, | Cons - Snowsill
England's pack set the tone for the Test early on, demonstrating their dominance by winning a scrum against the head inside the opening minute, and shunting Wales back five metres.
And their opening try came 6 minutes later, off the back of a Welsh error at a promising line-out close to England's try line. Zoe Aldcroft pounced on the ball and the women in white spread it wide and cantered up the field. It only took two phases before a gap opened for Helena Rowland, and the Loughborough woman darted through it, and found her way over the whitewash. Emily Scarratt converted the effort.
Having scuppered their first promising set piece, Wales made no mistake with their second on 15 minutes, as the line-out was successfully claimed and rolled toward England's line. Second row Gwen Crabb broke off it, powering over to score, and fly half Elinor Snowsill added the extras to level the game at 7-7.
The answer from Simon Middleton's charges was immediate. The catalyst behind their second try was a break away courtesy of Lydia Thompson, which led to an England penalty. The ball was pumped into the corner, and Marlie Packer peeled off the resulting line-out, popping a pass into the path of the onrushing Scarratt who stretched out to claim international try number 52, and shortly after her second conversion of the Test.
Wales flanker Alex Callender was shown a yellow card after 25 minutes, for ill discipline at the breakdown, and England took advantage of the extra player straight away. Packer was the benefactor at the back of a bulldozing driving maul, and Scarratt continued her fine form with the boot to make it 21-7.
The strength showed at scrum time in minute one engineered England's fourth try as the break approached - referee Aurélie Groizeleau awarding a penalty try - and Ellie Kildunne scampered over on the stroke of half time to hand the Red Roses a 26 point lead.
England started the second half how they ended the first, with a try. Hooker Amy Cokayne barrelled over off the back of another driving maul, and Scarratt added the conversion to make it 40-7. Minutes after scoring one, Cokayne assisted another, rushing through a gap before offloading to Rowland who went over for her second. The earlier carded Callender, now back on the field, charged down Scarratt's conversion.
Scarratt's second try was a carbon copy of her first, and the successful conversion was her final act of the match. Middleton unloaded the bench as the hour mark approached, and his finishers made a sudden impact; Maud Muir linking with fellow forward Hannah Botterman, before the Saracen unleashed Rowland away to claim her hat-trick. She converted her own effort to make it 59-7.
Welsh fortune went from bad to worse as the Red Roses stepped on the accelerator in the final 20 minutes with further tries from Botterman and Alex Matthews, confirming a comprehensive win at Ashton Gate.
The Red Roses' 25 wins in a row has stretched across three years with their last loss in July 2019, while their impressive home record is also extended having not lost in England since November 2016.
TEAMS
Red Roses
15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Lydia Thompson, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Helena Rowland, 11. Sarah McKenna, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Lucy Packer, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Lark Davies, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Abbie Ward, 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Marlie Packer, 8. Sarah Hunter (C).
Finishers
16. Amy Cokayne, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Maud Muir, 19. Sarah Beckett, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Claudia MacDonald, 22. Amber Reed, 23.Holly Aitchison.
Wales
15. Niamh Terry, 14. Lowri Norkett, 13. Carys Williams-Morris, 12. Hannah Jones (C), 11. Jasmine Joyce, 10. Elinor Snowsill, 9. Ffion Lewis, 1. Gwenllian Pyrs, 2. Carys Phillips, 3. Cerys Hale, 4. Natalia John, 5. Gwen Crabb, 6. Alisha Butchers, 7. Alex Callender, 8. Sioned Harries.
Replacements
16. Kelsey Jones, 17. Caryl Thomas, 18. Sisilia Tuipulotu, 19. Siwan Lillicrap, 20. Bethan Lewis, 21. Keira Bevan, 22. Lleucu George, 23. Megan Webb.
