Red Roses beat USA in Exeter
The Red Roses beat USA 52-14 to make it 24 wins in a row in their first match of the Summer Nations Series.
In front of a crowd of 10,907 at Sandy Park in Exeter, Simon Middleton’s side ran in eight tries as they continue their preparations for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.
It took just five minutes for the hosts to take the lead off the back of a five-metre scrum when Poppy Cleall’s clever through the legs pass from number 8 allowed scrum half Natasha Hunt to slalom over.
It took just another two minutes for the next score, wing Jess Breach intercepting on England’s 10-metre line and racing in from 60 metres – Emily Scarratt adding a drop kicked conversion after the wind had taken the ball off the tee.
It was a tricky day for handling in Devon with a strong breeze across the pitch for most of the afternoon, but it was from a lineout throw from Amy Cokayne that a third was added as she re-joined the back of a driving maul and powered in from seven metres.
Some slick handling secured a fourth as Zoe Harrison and Ellie Kildunne worked it out to the wing for Claudia MacDonald to stroll in on her first appearance on a pitch since November 2021 following a neck injury.
Breach got her second long distance score after a turnover from Poppy Cleall, who then fed Scarratt down the blind side and Breach ran in from just inside her own half – Scarratt’s conversion, her fourth from five, making it 33-0 at the break. Breach’s 29th try in 23 Tests.
England’s first score of the second half came from a well-worked handling move as Scarratt fed the ball out wide to MacDonald and showed pace to beat the first defender, and stepped the second for a clinical finish.
Cokayne’s second was from another driving maul before a much-improved second half from the Eagles saw them finally get on the board through Hope Rogers. Some powerful forward play eventually saw the Exeter prop carry over and Cantorna adding the conversion.
The momentum shifted when Shaunagh Brown was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle and Helena Rowland joined her for a deliberate knock on near the try line, which saw USA given a penalty try.
Despite having 13 players, there was another try for the Red Roses with a well-weighted grubber from Harrison bouncing kindly into the arms of the on-rushing Kildunne.
There was a return to an England shirt after a three-year absence for Tatyana Heard, while Cath O’Donnell and Morwenna Talling also made a return to the field after their long-term injuries.
The Red Roses' 24 wins in a row has stretched across three years with their last loss in July 2019, while their impressive home record is also extended having not lost in England since November 2016.
England next face Wales at Ashton Gate, Bristol on Wednesday, 14 September at 1930 BST in the final match before they travel to New Zealand.
TEAMS
Red Roses
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Jess Breach
13. Emily Scarratt (C)
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Claudia MacDonald
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Bryony Cleall
4. Rosie Galligan
5. Cath O’Donnell
6. Zoe Aldcroft (VC)
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Poppy Cleall
Finishers
16. Connie Powell
17. Maud Muir
18. Shaunagh Brown
19. Morwenna Talling
20. Vicky Fleetwood
21. Leanne Infante
22. Helena Rowland
23. Holly Aitchison
USA
15. Alev Kelter
14. Jennine Detiveaux
13. Eti Haungatau
12. Katana Howard
11. Lotte Clapp
10. Gabby Cantorna
9. Olivia Ortiz
1. Hope Rogers
2. Joanna Kitlinski
3. Nick James
4. Hallie Taufoou
5. Kristine Sommer
6. Rachel Johnson
7. Georgie Perris-Redding
8. Kate Zackary
Replacements
16. Catie Benson
17. Charli Jacoby
18. Evi Ashenbrucker
19. Elizabeth Cairns
20. Carly Waters
21. Megan Foster
22. Meya Bizer
