Red card stains England win over Women’s Eagles

A controversial red card to USA prop Megan Rom early in the contest soured what was otherwise a dominant showing from England as they defeated the Women’s Eagles 57-5 at Allianz Park on Friday. While the result of the match was never in doubt, the send-off effectively ended the match as a contest and will be a talking point in the review with many considering the punishment excessive.

Leanne Riley put the Red Roses on top in the opening minutes before the pivotal incident. Rom collided with Sarah Beckett but raised her forearm into the upper sternum of the England No8, sliding up to the neck which prompted the officials to deliver the red card.

The USA held on valiantly but Sarah McKenna made the advantage count. A penalty try in the 34th minute saw the Women’s Eagles reduced to 13 players with captain Kate Zackary sent to the sin bin. Two tries in quick succession followed from Abbie Scott and Kate Daley-Mclean, the latter celebrating her test century.

Two scores from regular skipper Sarah Hunter came early in the second half. Once again the Eagles dug in and held England out, scoring one of their own through replacement Jennine Duncan. England closed out the game with late scores via Zoe Harrison and Carys Williams.

The USA will play their reserve side against England ‘A’ at Newbury on Tuesday, with their next test coming next Saturday against Ireland in Dublin.

 

SCORING

ENGLAND 57
Tries – L. Riley (7’), S. McKenna (25’), Penalty try (34’), A. Scott (37’), K. Daley-Mclean (39’), S. Hunter 2 (46’, 52’), Z. Harrison (78’), C. Williams (80’)
Cons – K. Daley-Mclean 4 (8’, 26’, 38’, 47’)

USA 5
Tries – J. Duncan (75’)
Yellow cards – K. Zackary (34’)
Red cards – M. Rom (14’)

 

TEAMS

ENGLAND
1 Ellena Perry, 2 Lark Davies, 3 Shaunagh Brown, 4 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Abbie Scott (capt.), 6 Joanna Brown, 7 Vicky Fleetwood, 8 Sarah Beckett, 9 Leanne Riley, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean, 11 Kelly Smith, 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Carys Williams, 14 Lydia Thompson, 15 Sarah McKenna

Replacements: 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Hannah Botterman, 19 Catherine O’Donnell, 20 Sarah Hunter, 21 Claudia Macdonald, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Lucy Attwood

USA
1 Megan Rom, 2 Joanna Kitlinski, 3 Catie Benson, 4 Stacey Bridges, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Rachel Johnson, 7 Kate Zackary (capt.), 8 Jordan Gray, 9 AnnaKaren Pedraza, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Sarah Levy, 12 McKenzie Hawkins, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Kelsi Stockert, 15 Kaitlyn Broughton

Replacements: 16 Joyce Taufa, 17 Azniv Nalbandian, 18 Nick James, 19 Melissa Finkelstein, 20 Kristine Sommer, 21 Nikki Kenyon, 22 Megan Foster, 23 Jennine Duncan

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistants: Melanie Liley (RFU) & Jonathan Cook (RFU)
TMO: Éric Gauzins (FFR)