England U20s 31 Canada U20s 5
England Women Under 20s opened their Nations Cup campaign with a convincing 31-5 defeat of host nation Canada on Saturday.
The England young guns ran in an impressive five tries with Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt claiming a brace of tries. England next play Canada A on Monday July 14th before taking on Home Nations rivals Wales two days later. The final of the Nations Cup takes place on Saturday July 19th.
England started their campaign after just two minutes when a move out-wide set Samantha Bree up for a 30 metre dash to score. Lichfield’s Scarratt added the conversion, before the fullback then added her first try of the Nations Cup after 23 minutes. Scarratt again converted to hand England a comfortable 14-0 lead in a very physical first quarter of the match.
With England gaining the ascendency in the set-piece they continued to apply the pressure through the outside backs. Youngster Scarratt, who has also been included in this summer’s senior Nations Cup to be held in England in August, then cruised in for her second try on 35 minutes. Scarratt this time missed the conversion, but England managed to stretch their lead further with Bath centre Natasha Hunt adding try number four, and handing the tourists a 24-0 at the break.
After the restart, Canada came back at England with aggression and spirit which tested their defence. England then went a player down with Reading’s Hannah Field going into the sin-bin and in that time Canada pulled a try back courtesy of one of their pacey wingers.
England bounced back immediately, with the impact coming from the bench. Georgina Crabb broke down the wing but was tackled 15 metres from the try-line. Ivel Barbarians’ Charlotte Male was, however, in support and she took the off-load well and ran in to put England 29-5 up. With Scarratt then adding another successful conversion, England secured the 31-5 victory in Toronto.
England Head Coach Giselle Mather said: “We are very pleased with this first game against unknown opposition. The players were challenged as they have never been challenged before and every player gave 100 percent. I am very proud of the commitment and the effort of every player.
“Canada have improved dramatically from last season and were a real test. The England players certainly know they have just played a tough game of rugby.”
England
1 Laura Keates (c) Worcester
2 Davinia Monteiro Wasps
3 Victoria Cornborough Richmond
4 Rowena Burnfield Richmond
5 Charlotte Wild Buxton
6 Isabelle Noel-Smith Bath
7 Marlie Packer Bath
8 Nicola Hoole Bath
9 Sarah Guest Worcester
10 Claire Garner Doncaster
11 Samantha Bree Worcester
12 Sara Mckenna Old Albanian Saints
13 Rose Fong Darlington Mowden Park
14 Natasha Hunt Bath
15 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
Replacements:
16 Charlotte Male Ivel Barbarians
17 Victoria Fleetwood Lichfield
18 Hannah Field Reading
19 Juliet Short Darlington Mowden Park
20 Rachel Fraser Morpeth
21 April Brown Saracens
22 Georgina Crabb Camberley
Tries: Bree, Scarratt (2), Hunt, Male,
Conversions: Scarratt (3)
Penalties:
Replacements: Wild off for Short (1), Hoole off for Field (52), Garner off for Brown, Guest off for Fraser, Monterio off for Fleetwood (64), Cornborough off for Male, Hunt off for Crabb (67).
Under 20s Nations Cup Schedule:
All games to be played at Appleby College in Toronto
Friday July 11th
Wales v Canada A, KO 530pm
England v Canada KO 710pm (1210am BST)
Monday July 14th
England v Canada A KO 530pm (1030pm BST)
Canada v Wales KO 710 pm
Wednesday July 16th:
England v Wales KO 7pm (12am BST)
Saturday July 19th:
Championship Final KO 5pm (10pm BST)
by Julia Hutton
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