England sails past USA in WXV opener

England had no trouble extending their winning streak to 18 games as they sailed past the USA by a final score of 61-21 in the WXV opener in Vancouver on Sunday. The Eagles stayed within a respectable margin until the final quarter, when the Red Roses piled on 28 unanswered points to close out the match.

It was a patient start for England, but eventually forward pressure yielded points through Lark Atkin-Davies. The hooker barged over on the short side on a set move from a lineout. Just two minutes later Ellie Kildunne showed her pace with a searing break from well inside her own end, taking the outside and stepping past the cover for a 75-meter solo effort that ended under the posts.

The Eagles got on the board via Alev Kelter. After regathering her own chip over the top, the center used her footwork to beat three defenders for a classy finish. A mistake by Kelter in her own end, however, gave Georgia Brock the easiest of scores to erase the Eagles effort. Before time was up on the half Alex Matthews finished off an overlap to make it 28-7 to the Red Roses at the intermission.

Kelter went in for a double early in the second half, this time on a short run after the forwards had sucked in the defense. England’s response came through debutante winger Bo Westcombe-Evans, who fended one would-be tackler and slid into the corner after Jess Breach had circled around to overload the right side of the pitch.

Kate Zackary would get one back for the Eagles when the captain peeled away to the short side from a maul. The last few minutes were all England, however, with Morwenna Talling, Breach, and Kildunne crossing in rapid succession. Ella Wyrwas brought a close to the match with a breakaway after intercepting a wayward pass.

The two sides will make the trip to Langley next weekend, with the USA to collide with France on Saturday. England takes on the defending World Cup champions New Zealand on Sunday.

 

SCORING

USA 21
Tries (3) – A. Kelter 2 (31′, 44′), K. Zackary (58′)
Cons (3) – M. Hawkins 3/3 (32′, 45′, 59′)

ENGLAND 61
Tries (9) – L. Atkin-Davies (12′), E. Kildunne 2 (14′, 78′), G. Brock (36′), A. Matthews (40’+2′), B. Westcombe-Evans (50′), M. Talling (68′), J. Breach (74′), E. Wyrwas (80′)
Cons (8) – Z. Harrison 8/9 (13′, 15′, 37′, 40’+3′, 68′, 74′, 78′, 80’+1′)

TEAMS

USA
1 Hope Rogers (17 Catie Benson 71′), 2 Kathryn Treder (16 Paige Stathopoulos 63′), 3 Charli Jacoby (18 Mae Sagapolu HT), 4 Erica Jarrell (19 Emerson Allen 71′), 5 Hallie Taufo’ou, 6 Tahlia Brody, 7 Kate Zackary (capt.), 8 Rachel Johnson (20 Rachel Ehrecke 56′), 9 Taina Tukuafu (21 Sophie Pyrz 69′), 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 11 Kris Thomas (22 Joanne Fa’avesi HT), 12 Alev Kelter, 13 Emily Henrich, 14 Cheta Emba (23 Tess Feury 64′), 15 Bulou Mataitoga

ENGLAND
1 Mackenzie Carson (17 Kelsey Clifford 64′), 2 Lark Atkin-Davies (16 Amy Cokayne 53′), 3 Sarah Bern (18 Maud Muir 53′), 4 Rosie Galligan (19 Zoe Aldcroft 61′), 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Morwenna Talling, 7 Georgia Brock, 8 Alex Matthews (capt.) (20 Maddie Feaunati 64′), 9 Lucy Packer, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Jess Breach, 12 Phoebe Murray (22 Holly Aitchison 61′), 13 Emily Scarratt (23 Helena Rowland 61′), 14 Bo Westcombe-Evans (21 Ella Wyrwas 64′), 15 Ellie Kildunne

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, September 29
Venue: BC Place, Vancouver
Kickoff: 12:30 local (15:30 Eastern, 20:30 London)
Weather: sunny, 55°F (13°C), wind W 10-15mph (16-24km/h)

OFFICIALS

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistants: Julianne Zussman (Canada) & Emma Gallagher (Canada)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

HIGHLIGHTS