Red Roses claim bonus-point victory against Scotland

19 Apr 2025 | 3 min |

Red Roses claim bonus-point victory against Scotland

The Red Roses stay on course for the Grand Slam after they ran nine tries to claim a 59-7 bonus-point win over Scotland at Mattioli Woods Stadium in the penultimate round of the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations.

Match reaction

England's victory came featured braces from Claudia MacDonald and Abby Dow, tries for Kelsey Clifford, Marlie Packer, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Lark Atkin-Davies, and 14 points from Holly Aitchison's boot. Scotland's sole try was scored by Lisa Thomson and converted by Helen Nelson.

England came out strong, entering Scotland’s 22 immediately after the whistle. Leaving the left blindside defenceless, Macdonald had multiple attempts at a try but England’s unforced errors left the scoreboard pointless.

But not for long. Moments later, on the six-minute mark, a recycled ball from Lucy Packer saw Clifford power over the white line from close range. Aitchison added the extras, giving England an early seven-point lead.

It was Clifford’s second-ever Test try, having scored her first in the previous round against Ireland.

Scotland responded by entering England’s 22, but a clean high-ball catch from MacDonald saw her break the visitors’ defensive line and bring England back into attack metres from the try-line.

Soon after, England scored two tries in quick succession. The first saw Maddie Feaunati carry the ball to within a metre of the try-line after a scrum in Scotland’s 22. Packer finished it off, claiming her 50th Test try.

The second came from Aldcroft, who intercepted Nelson's pass and unleashed her speed, sprinting from the half way line to cross the whitewash under the posts. Aitchison successfully converted both tries, extending their lead to 21-0.

England’s attack was relentless as they found their way back to the try-line moments later. But impressive defence from Jade Konkel, who is playing England for the first time in three years, turned over the ball and prevented the hosts from adding to their tally.

MacDonald got her try on the 27-minute mark and, in doing so, secured England’s bonus point. Back on the attack and approaching Scotland’s 22, a few phases of play found onrushing MacDonald, who stepped past multiple Scottish defenders to score. Aitchison added the extras, pushing the score to 28-0.

Less than ten minutes later, England scored again. Metres from the try-line, the hosts took advantage of an error in a Scottish line-out, and Ward power over from close range. Aitchison converted, giving them a 35-point lead.

England’s try-scoring frenzy was not over, with Atkin-Davies claiming the Red Roses’ sixth try as the clock ticked into the red. Aitchison kicked the conversion leaving the score 42-0 at the break.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, the ball seesawed between both sides. Scotland’s Francesca McGhie made multiple attacking carries, but it was England to score first on the 50-minute mark.

England threw the ball across the width of the pitch before Packer offloaded to MacDonald. The winger ran down the left flank for the final stretch and touched the ball down under the posts for her second try of the game. Aitchison added the extras.

Almost half way into the second half, Scotland got on the scoreboard. A driving maul from close range saw Thomson power over. Nelson added the extras to make the score 49-7.

The 10-minute countdown was on, and England scored two tries at the hands of Dow. Ellie Kildunne offloaded to Dow on the right blindside, who then sprinted 50 metres while handing off three Scottish defenders to claim a world-class try.

One-minute from full time, the second came from MacDonald, who offloaded to Dow on the wing to touch down in the corner. Aitchison was unable to convert either try, finishing the game 59-7.