England Women defeat New Zealand in London Emirates Airline 7s

Worcester’s Gemma Sharples was in the thick of the action and after a nice pass from Saracens’ Claire Allan, Sharples’ slick run saw her beat two New Zealand players to the line and score. With Richardson adding the conversion England took the 14-10 victory.

England Women defeat New Zealand in London Emirates Airline 7s

England 14 New Zealand Aotearoa Maori 10

England claimed their second win on the bounce against the New Zealand Aotearoa Maori 7s team on Sunday after a thrilling 14-10 victory at Twickenham.

England, who were crowned Amsterdam 7s champions last weekend after also defeating New Zealand in the final, ran in two tries and kicked two conversions to seal the victory in the one off fixture at the home of English rugby.

The fixture also marked an historic day with New Zealand women playing their first international at Twickenham stadium. For England, however, they will be smiling after winning two consecutive games against a side who hadn’t been beaten in nine years of international sevens rugby until last week.

England Sevens Head Coach Simon Amor said: “I am delighted. We have made a big step-up today and the girls know that.

“We were a big messy in some places, but for most of our players they had never played at Twickenham before, let alone in front of a passionate crowd like this so this was a big day.

“It’s great that we have won two tournaments in a row and two finals against New Zealand, but we are by no means the finished article and we have still got a long way to go.”

The clash was a thrilling game from the first whistle to the last with both teams in the thick of the action. After four minutes Richmond’s Emma Layland handed England a 5-0 lead with a nice try after the ball went astray off the back of a New Zealand line-out and the England hooker ran in. Richmond’s Alice Richardson converted.

New Zealand bounced back just before half-time when some creative work from Black Ferns stalwart Anna Richards set-up Selica Winiata who then dummied her way through England’s defence to score. Crucially Richards missed the conversion keeping England 7-5 ahead at the break.

After the restart a quick tap penalty and a break from Ngahuri Thomas put the tourists 10-7 ahead but in the last seconds of the match England refused to give up and stole the win.

Worcester’s Gemma Sharples was in the thick of the action and after a nice pass from Saracens’ Claire Allan, Sharples’ slick run saw her beat two New Zealand players to the line and score. With Richardson adding the conversion England took the 14-10 victory.

England now head to Edinburgh for the Home Nations 7s tournament next Sunday hoping to secure three tournament wins on the trot.

Tries: Layland, Sharples
Conversions: Richardson (2)

London Sevens

Claire Allan Saracens
Susan Day Wasps (C)
Heather Fisher Wasps
Emma Layland Richmond
Sarah Marsh Wasps
Alice Richardson Richmond
Gemma Sharples Worcester
Danielle Waterman Clifton
Joanne Yapp Worcester

by Julia Hutton
May 25th, 2008

England Women crowned European Champions

England 12 Wales 6

England were crowned European Champions after a hard fought 12-6 victory against Wales in the European Championship final in Amsterdam on Saturday.

The win hands England another trophy to add to their already bulging silverware cabinet which includes the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam crown which they have now won three years on the bounce.

England Head Coach Gary Street, whose side also beat Sweden (80-3) and Ireland (22-11) on route to the final, said: “We are delighted with this victory. We have not won the elite European Championships since 1997. A lot of very good English sides have failed in this tournament but finally we have won it. It’s also great to be crowned Six Nations and European Champions in the same season. Not many sides can say they have done that.

“This was a tough game, but in the end we dominated the second-half and were in control. Wales gave us a very good test though, our first real test since the Rugby World Cup Final in 2006. You need tight games like this though and we proved today that we can come from behind and win.”

England indeed had to come from behind to steal the win after going 6-0 down at the break. Wales took advantage of having the strong wind behind them while England suffered in the blustery conditions.

First Wales’ Non Evans stroked over a 15th minute penalty after England were penalised for holding on and then she matched her efforts on 17 minutes when England didn’t roll away at the breakdown.

England and Wales also lost a player each to the sin-bin in the first-half with England losing Saracen hooker Amy Garnett.

After the restart England made the most of the wind and also started to dominate territory as well as possession. Darlington Mowden Park fly-half Katy McLean broke England’s duck with a 53rd minute penalty.

England then lost influential flanker Maggie Alphonsi to the sin-bin but England didn’t suffer with the likes of Rosemarie Crowley, Vicky Massarella and Sarah Beale being rolled on for some fresh legs.

On 67 minutes McLean added a second penalty to draw the scores level at 6-6 before adding a further two successful kicks at goal to clinch the 12-6 victory and the European Championship title.

England

1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Worcester), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 10 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 12 Rachael Burford (VC) (Saracens), 13 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Charlotte Barras (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Sarah Beale (Leos), 19 Karen Jones (Richmond), 20 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 21 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton), 22 Vicky Massarella (Saracens)

Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties: McLean (4)
Substitutions: Oliver for Merchant (43), Crowley for Hemming, Massarella for Staniford, Beale for McGilchrist (all 61), Rozario for Turner (73), Dale for Garnett, Jones for Hunter (all 75).

by Julia Hutton
May 24th, 2008

England add European Crown

England Womens Rugby have added yet another title to their impressive season. Earlier today beating Wales 12 - 6 the girls added European Champions to their laurels.

More to follow

England Women pick for Sevens

England Women have named strong squads for both the Amsterdam and London Sevens tournaments.

Head Coach Simon Amor, along with his assistant Mike Friday, have selected two squads that boast a total of 263 caps between the thirteen players.

Two former England captains, Worcester's Jo Yapp and Wasps' Sue Day, return from international retirement to spearhead England's sevens campaign as the team continue their preparations to qualify for the inaugural IRB Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai in 2009.

The Amsterdam Sevens squad, to be played on the weekend of May 17/18, includes seven players who helped England win the 2008 Six Nations Grand Slam. There are also call-ups for Sonia Green, who has been a regular for England A this season and Heather Fisher who has also previously played for England A.

For the London Sevens England will play a one off fixture against the New Zealand Aotearoa Maori Sevens team on May 25 at Twickenham Stadium. The NZ Aotearoa Maori Sevens have won the Hong Kong Sevens four years on the bounce.

"Amsterdam is a great tournament to kick start our sevens campaign," said former England Sevens Captain Amor.

"There are some really competitive national teams involved including Canada, the USA and the NZ Aotearoa Maori team. That's good news for us as we need to challenge ourselves early on.

"It's certainly going to be a tough tournament, especially as we could potentially play nine games in two days, that is three more than I ever played for England on the World Sevens circuit.

"I'm really pleased with the two squads we've got for Amsterdam and London. It's great to have the likes of Jo Yapp and Sue Day back in action for England.

"All the players have been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and I'm really pleased with the way they are developing. This is going to be an exciting month of sevens rugby."

Amsterdam Sevens squad: Claire Allan (Saracens), Charlotte Barras (Saracens), Rachael Burford (Saracens), Susan Day (Wasps), Heather Fisher (Wasps), Sonia Green (Saracens), Emma Layland (Richmond), Sarah Marsh (Wasps), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Danielle Waterman (Clifton), Joanne Yapp (Worcester).

London Sevens squad: Claire Allan (Saracens), Susan Day (Wasps), Heather Fisher (Wasps), Sonia Green (Saracens), Emma Layland (Richmond), Sarah Marsh (Wasps), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Gemma Sharples (Worcester), Danielle Waterman (Clifton), Joanne Yapp (Worcester).

Congratulations

A big congratulations to Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) for leading her country against Sweden in the European Championships earlier this month. Kay has had an outstanding season this season, and I am sure now that she has had a taste of Captaincy she will be relishing further opportunities

England Women bid to win the European Championships

Tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Wales in the final in Amsterdam, kick-off 3pm BST.

The European Championships for elite international sides comes around once every four years, with a development European Championship staged in the years in between.

Last year England’s A squad won the final by defeating France A 27-17 but this year England Head Coach Gary Street is hoping his Elite 22 can match the A team’s efforts and be crowned European Champions.

Street has made one positional change to the team that defeated Ireland 22-11 in the semi-finals on Tuesday with Lichfield’s Rosemarie Crowley coming in for Wasps’ Clare Purdy on the bench.

England last played Wales in the first game of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship. England racked up a 55-0 win in February before going on to win an unprecedented third consecutive six nations Grand Slam crown.

Street, whose side also beat Sweden 80-3 on route to Saturday’s final, said: “Preparations have been going fantastically well and all our players are fit and well. We have had selection dilemmas because the players’ performances have been so strong, but I’m very happy with this 22.

“Wales had a tough game against France in their semi-final, winning 18-10, and they endured a real physical battle. They’ll certainly be motivated for this game, especially with the 6 Nations defeat raw in their minds. Wales are a good side and we have to be wary of them, especially as they have so much experience.

“For us, the expectancy is there for us to win but what we are looking at is playing our own game well and showing that we can play an exciting brand of attacking rugby. If we can do that, then hopefully the result will follow. Having not won the Elite European Championships since 1997, we are desperate to win this time, so we won’t be lacking any motivation.”

England

1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Rochelle Clark Henley
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Worcester
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Rachael Burford (VC) Saracens
13 Michaela Staniford Wasps
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Dale Worcester
17 Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
18 Sarah Beale Leos
19 Karen Jones Richmond
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Kimberley Oliver Clifton
22 Vicky Massarella Saracens

by Julia Hutton
May 23rd, 2008

England Women through to European Championship Final

England 22 Ireland 11



England Women booked their place in the final of the European Championships tonight (Tuesday) after a controlled win over Home Nation rivals Ireland in Drachten, Holland.

England touched down four times with Worcester’s Katherine Merchant claiming a brace of tries. Saracens’ Maggie Alphonsi and Richmond’s Fiona Pocock also scored tries while Saracens and England’s vice captain Rachel Burford added one conversion.

England will now play Wales in the final on Saturday in Amsterdam, kick off 3pm BST.

England started the game on the back-foot after Ireland slotted home a penalty when England were penalised for a high tackle, but a try from Merchant on nine minutes put the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions back in charge.

The score came following an excellent and well-worked line-out which saw the ball worked across the field with Merchant coming in from the blindside to score in the left-hand corner. Burford added the conversion to hand England a 7-3 lead.

Both England and Ireland went a player down to the sin-bin after 20 minutes with England losing Sophie Hemming, but that didn’t stop the scoring with Merchant claiming her second touchdown just before half time.

This time some more good work in the line-out saw England steal the ball and after some great continuity the ball was moved back to Merchant for the Worcester winger to score in the right corner. Burford missed the conversion, but England went into the break with a 12-3 lead.

Gary Street’s side came out firing on all cylinders after the restart and Richmond’s Pocock, playing in only her second game for England, made the most of some turn-over ball from the kick-off to score and hand England a 17-3 cushion.

Saracens’ flanker Alphonsi stretch England’s lead further on 61 minutes after a great break from Burford in the midfield, and some good support saw Alphonsi finish off the move.

Ireland however came back at England and stroked over a 64th minute penalty before adding a try in extra time, but their efforts came too late with England securing their second win over their Home Nations rivals in two months.

England Head Coach Street said: “I’m really happy we are through to the final. We have got areas to work on before Saturday’s game, but at the moment we are just happy that we got though to Saturday’s game comfortably.

“Ireland were as committed as ever and they gave us a tough game but we were in control and their last score flattered the final score-line.”

England

1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Worcester), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 10 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 12 Rachael Burford (VC) (Saracens), 13 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Charlotte Barras (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 17 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 18 Sarah Beale (Leos), 19 Karen Jones (Richmond), 20 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 21 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton), 22 Vicky Massarella (Saracens)

Tries: Merchant (2), Pocock, Alphonsi
Conversions: Burford (2)
Substitutions: Beale for McGilchrist (57), Massarella for Barras (57), Jones for Alphonsi (62), Purdy for Clark (62), Oliver for Burford (65), Dale for Garnett (66), Rozario for Turner (66).

by Julia Hutton
May 20th, 2008

England Women’s team for European Championship semi-final against Ireland announced

The England Women’s team to take on Ireland in the semi-finals of the European Championships tomorrow (Tuesday) in Drachten, Holland, kick-off 7pm BST, has today been announced.

England Head Coach Gary Street has made 11 changes to the starting line-up that defeated Sweden 80-3 on Saturday, including an all new front row.

Street has also called-up Saracens’ Rachel Burford and Charlotte Barras and Wasps’ Michaela Staniford who all competed in the Amsterdam 7s last weekend, which England won by defeating the New Zealand Aotearoa Maoris in the final.

England last played Ireland in the final game of this season’s RBS 6 Nations and won 17-7 to clinch an unprecedented third consecutive Grand Slam crown.

Street said: “We have made several changes for this game and are fortunate enough to be able to beef up the squad with the players who were successful in Amsterdam at the weekend.

“With three games in the space of a week it’s really important to get some fresh legs on the pitch and also give everyone some game time if we are really going to challenge for honours.

“Playing Ireland is going to be a tough match and certainly a big step up in opposition after playing Sweden on Saturday. When we last took them on we were a little disappointed with out performance so this is a great opportunity to put in a better display so soon after playing them in March.

“Ireland have certainly brought a strong squad here and I’m sure they’ll be feeling confident after their good performance against us. They also picked up a good win against Spain in their opening match, winning 41-7.”

In the other European Championship semi-final Wales are playing France at 7pm BST on Tuesday.

England

1 Sophie Hemming Clifton
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Rochelle Clark Henley
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Worcester
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Fiona Pocock Richmond
12 Rachael Burford (VC) Saracens
13 Michaela Staniford Wasps
14 Katherine Merchant Worcester
15 Charlotte Barras Saracens
Replacements:
16 Samantha Dale Worcester
17 Claire Purdy Wasps
18 Sarah Beale Leos
19 Karen Jones Richmond
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Kimberley Oliver Clifton
22 Vicky Massarella Saracens
by Julia Hutton
May 19th, 2008

England Women through to European Championship semi-finals

England 80 Sweden 3

England Women booked their place in the semi-finals of the European Championships on Saturday with an impressive 80-3 victory over emerging rugby nation Sweden.

The reigning RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam champions obliterated their opposition despite having five new caps make their debuts today. In total they ran in a massive 80 points grabbing 14 tries along the way.

England will now either play Ireland or Spain on Tuesday May 20th at 7pm BST in Amsterdam for a place in Saturday European Championship final.

Worcester wing Kat Merchant kicked off England’s cricket score win with the first of the 14 tries after just four minutes when a good ball from a 15 metre scrum saw the ball recycled into the midfield. Merchant then pounced on the ball to break through and score. Match day captain Katy McLean added the conversion.

Leos lock Sarah Beale added a converted try just three minutes later to hand England a 14-0 lead before Sweden’s fly-half claimed their only score of the match with a 12th minute penalty.

Lichfield centre Vicki Jackson, making her debut for England, claimed the first of her three tries on 25 minutes when a turn-over ball saw Jackson attack and score in the corner. McLean this time missed the conversion. Jackson then claimed her brace on 35 minutes to hand England a 19-3 lead at half-time.

During the break Head Coach Gary Street made two changes with Richmond’s Amy Turner replacing Clifton’s Kim Oliver and Sarah Hunter making way for Tamara Taylor.

Richmond’s experienced forward and England’s vice captain Karen Jones handed England a 26 point cushion on 42 minutes when she pushed her way over the line, before Fran Matthews claimed her first try for England on her debut. The Richmond wing was set-up by the experience Turner after a turn-over ball.

Merchant claimed her brace of tries on 55 minutes, before a raft of changes for England made matters even worse for Sweden. The likes of England captain Catherine Spencer, Maggie Alphonsi, Rochelle Clark coming off the bench certainly had an impact with England adding another seven tries in the space of 24 minutes.

Substitute Fiona Pocock also had an immediate effect touching down after just four minutes of being on the pitch and on her debut, after some great handling from the forwards and backs. Turner converted to hand England a 44-3 lead.

Moments later and forward Alphonsi added a score before Pocock claimed her brace of tries.

A great individual effort from Jackson saw the England debutant grab her hat-trick, of which she converted before also adding conversions on tries by Merchant and Alphonsi.

England captain Spencer then added the final try on 80 minutes with a well worked push over try to hand England the 80-3 victory.

England Head Coach Street said: “This was a good first game for the start of the tournament. Sweden were a very spirited side, but in the end we proved we were in a class above.

“We made some unforced errors to start with and there were some nerves, but that is understandable with so many new caps in this game. In the end we steadied the game and the new caps stepped up to the plate. We are now looking forward to the semi-finals.”

The European Championships sees 14 teams from across Europe compete for the coveted crown, including all the Home Nations teams as well as France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.

If England win the semi-finals on May 20th, they will compete in the final on May 24th.

England

1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 3 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 4 Sarah Beale ( Leos), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Marlie Packer (Bath), 8 Karen Jones (Richmond), 9 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 10 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C), 11 Francesca Matthews (Richmond), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton), 13 Vicki Jackson (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Vicky Massarella (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 17 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 18 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 19 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 20 Catherine Spencer (Worcester), 21 Amy Turner (Richmond), 22 Fiona Pocock (Richmond).

Head Coach Gary Street, Assistant Coach Graham Smith

Tries: Merchant (3), Beale, Jackson (3), Jones, Matthews, Pocock (2), Alphonsi (2), Spencer.
Conversions: McLean (2), Turner (3)
Substitutions: Turner for Oliver (40), Taylor for Hunter (40), Garnett for Dale, Clark for Purdy, Pocock for McLean, Alphonsi for Packer, Spencer for Bealer (all 56 mins).

by Julia Hutton
May 17th, 2008

England Women crowned Amsterdam 7s Champions

England Women were crowned champions of the Amsterdam 7s today (Sunday) after an impressive run in their first tournament of the season.

Simon Amor’s side defeated their arch rivals the New Zealand Aotearoa Maoris in the championship final 24-5, reversing an earlier defeat they had suffered in the pool stages of the competition.

England, who will also play New Zealand in the London Emirates Airline 7s in a week’s time at Twickenham, ran in four tries to New Zealand’s sole touchdown to clinch the championship win. Clifton’s Danielle Waterman claimed a brace of tries, with former England captain Jo Yapp and Heather Fisher also scoring a try. Saracens’ Rachel Burford added two conversions.

England 7s Head Coach Amor, a former England 7s captain himself, said: “The team have been sensational. They have performed so well and I am very proud of them. Playing nine games in two days is a big ask, but the players have come through it fantastically well.

“Next up we have got the London Emirates Airline 7s against New Zealand next weekend and that is going to be a massive occasion and challenge, but one we are relishing as we look to build on our sevens campaign this season and ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup 7s.”

England booked their place in the final after cruising through Saturday’s pool stages, winning four games and scoring 226 points along the way.

On Sunday they finished second in their pool after beating an international invitational team called Susie's Valkyries 47-0 and Canada 26-0. England then suffered a 21-7 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, giving them a semi-final clash against the USA, who were seeded second after the second round of pool games.

England rose to the challenge and grinded out a 14-5 win thanks to tries by Richmond’s Emma Layland and Saracens’ Charlotte Barras and thereby booking their place in the final.

England results:

Day Two Pool Games

England 47 Susie's Valkyries 0
Tries: Waterman (3), Marsh, Day (2), Burford
Conversions: Burford (6)

England 26 Canada 0
Tries: Barras, Staniford (2), Waterman
Conversions: Richardson (3)

England 7 New Zealand 21
Tries: Barras
Conversions: Burford

Semi-Finals
England 14 USA 5
Tries: Layland, Barras
Conversions: Burford, Richardson

Final
England 24 New Zealand Aotearoa Maoris 5
Tries: Waterman (2), Yapp, Fisher
Conversions: Burford (2)

Amsterdam Sevens squad

Claire Allan Saracens
Charlotte Barras Saracens
Rachael Burford Saracens
Susan Day Wasps (captain)
Heather Fisher Wasps
Sonia Green Saracens
Emma Layland Richmond
Sarah Marsh Wasps
Alice Richardson Richmond
Michaela Staniford Wasps
Danielle Waterman Clifton
Joanne Yapp Worcester

by Julia Hutton
May 18th, 2008