England overpower USA at Sandy Park

The USA closed out their World Cup warm-up tour with a 52-14 defeat to England at Sandy Park on Saturday. A superior kicking game and the strength of the Red Roses forwards proved too much in a one-sided first half, but the Eagles restored some confidence with a committed second half showing.

Two tries in the opening minutes put the home side up by double-digits. Poppy Cleall’s between-the-legs pass to Natasha Hunt from the back of a scrum saw the English No9 slip through for the opening score. Soon after a loose pass from Gabby Cantorna gave Jess Breach a clear run-in from near halfway.

The Eagles managed to hold up Cath O’Donnell but side entry at a maul landed Hallie Taufo’ou in the sin-bin after a string of penalties. From the ensuing maul it was Amy Cokayne who touched down at the back, with Emily Scarratt adding her third conversion.

England would score two more tries before halftime, both off turnovers. Simple hands put Claudia MacDonald into the corner and then Breach on the other side was freed for another long-range effort. Cantorna would have a shot at goal with the clock in the red but pushed her attempt wide of the sticks.

There was greater resolve shown by the USA in the second half, but England’s pack again exerted their dominance. When the defense was stretched MacDonald stepped through for her second try, and then Cokayne made it three doubles on the back of a lineout drive.

Alev Kelter’s line break finally put the Eagles in an attacking position. After winning a penalty their own lineout went to work. When the drive slowed Kelter again appeared to build momentum and Hope Rogers took it the rest of the way, powering through two defenders to score.

The home side were reduced to just 13 players after successive yellow cards. Shaunagh Brown went first for a head-high shot on Kate Zackary, and then Helena Rowland followed for a deliberate knock-on that also resulted in a penalty try. Despite being shorthanded the Red Roses would have the final say when Zoe Harrison’s grubber popped up for Ellie Kildunne to score under the posts.

That concludes the USA’s pre-tournament fixtures and they will now break for two weeks until reconvening for the flight to New Zealand. England have now won 24 games in a row and the World Cup favorites will take on Wales at Bristol on September 14.

 

SCORING

ENGLAND 52
Tries – N. Hunt (4′), J. Breach 2 (7′, 32′), A. Cokayne 2 (21′, 55′), C. MacDonald 2 (28′, 49′), E. Kildunne (72′)
Cons – E. Scarratt 5/7 (8′, 22′, 29′, 33′, 50′), Z. Harrison 1/1 (73′)
YC – S. Brown (69′), H. Rowland (70′)

USA 14
Tries – H. Rogers (67′), Penalty try (70′)
Cons – G. Cantorna 1/1 (68′), No kick (70′)
Pens – G. Cantorna 0/1
YC – H. Taufo’ou (21′)

 

TEAMS

ENGLAND
1 Hannah Botterman (17 Maud Muir 57′), 2 Amy Cokayne (16 Connie Powell 57′), 3 Bryony Cleall (18 Shaunagh Brown 50′), 4 Rosie Galligan (3 Bryony Cleall 75′), 5 Cath O’Donnell (19 Morwenna Talling 57′), 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Poppy Cleall (20 Vicky Fleetwood 50′), 9 Natasha Hunt (21 Leanne Infante HT), 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Claudia MacDonald, 12 Tatyana Heard (22 Helena Rowland 60′), 13 Emily Scarratt (capt.) (23 Holly Aitchison 60′), 14 Jess Breach, 15 Ellie Kildunne

USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Catie Benson 71′), 2 Joanna Kitlinski (16 Kathryn Treder 75′), 3 Nick James (18 Charli Jacoby 52′), 4 Hallie Taufo’ou, 5 Kristine Sommer (19 Evi Ashenbrucker 59′), 6 Rachel Johnson (20 Elizabeth Cairns 73′), 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 8 Kate Zackary (capt.), 9 Olivia Ortiz (21 Carly Waters 55′), 10 Gabby Cantorna (22 Megan Foster 73′), 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Katana Howard (23 Tess Feury 45′), 13 Meya Bizer, 14 Jennine Detiveaux, 15 Alev Kelter

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistants: Doriane Domenjo (France) & Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)