WALES DEFEATED BY THE ENGLISH YOUNG-GUNS

At Clifton RFC, England A took the reins from the whistle, with a move from Michaela Staniford and Vicky Massarella being halted on the line by Wales wing Manon Williams and a resulting Wales turnover. Staniford’s efforts were rewarded five minutes later, however, when she crossed to add England‘s first points of the game. Scrum half Amy Turner converted.

Not fazed by England‘s lead, Wales took full advantage of a line-out inside England‘s 22, maintaining possession through hands and rucking, to allow Hooker Jenny Davies to drive over for five unconverted points.

Staniford and Massarella combined effectively twice more before half-time to allow the latter to cross once and Kat Merchant to claim another. Both tries were converted to make the half-time score 21-5.

Wholesale personnel changes were made in the Welsh ranks during the break, with experienced players such as Rhian Williams and Non Evans coming on in attempt to steady the ship. However, it was not to be as Amy Turner stamped down the English dominance with a try shortly after the restart.

Both sides had sound chances denied as the game balanced out and the stride of the game picked up. England Centre Maggie Alphonsi appeared from over a ruck to race down field, only to be halted by a Hayley Baxter tackle.

The ball was quickly claimed by Wales, with Rhian Williams pinning her ears back and darting the full-length of the pitch through an England defence still reeling from Alphonsi’s near miss. Williams looked certain to score but was downed by a last-ditch tackle just short of the line.

Wales showed a steely determination to keep possession and were duly rewarded moments later from a scrum, with Number 8 Emma Phillips picking up and working with Kerry Jenkins to allow the powerhouse to cross. The try was unconverted to make it 26-10.

Buoyed by Phillips’ try, Wales held on to control and took the game to England. With them pushed back to defend their try-line, Non Evans scored via a well-timed chip and chase through a gap in the defence. Stacey Saunders converted to reduce England‘s lead to only 9 points.

But once again England regained control with some thoroughly impressive back-play creating a try for captain Susie Appleby and a second for Massarella. With Sarah Marsh converting one, the score then moved to 38-17.

With the Welsh defence deflated, the home side added a further two within the last five minutes through Alphonsi and Appleby, leaving the final score at 50-17.

England A
V. Massarella (2T)
S. Appleby (2T)
M. Staniford (1T)
Alphonsi (1T)
K. Merchant (1T)
A. Turner (1T, 3C)
S. Marsh (1C)
K. Oliver (1C)

Wales XV
E. Phillips (1T)
J. Davies (1T)
N. Evans (1T)
S. Saunders (1C)

Wales XV Amy Broadstock;  Jenny Davies;  Louise Horgan;  Claire Donovan;  Becky Dando;  Catrina Nicholas;  Kylie Wilson (C);  Emma Phillips;  Cath Walkley;  Awen Thomas;  Hayley Baxter;  Lowri Jones;  Louise Rickard;  Manon Williams;  Elen Evans

Replacements (all played):  Sophie Williams;  Nicola John;  Ruth Copeland;  Rhian Bowden;  Rachel Brown;  Eirlys Lougher;  Kerry Jenkins;  Stacey Saunders;  Non Evans;  Rhian Williams

England A H. Dawson;  A. O’Flynn;  K. Storie;  J. Farmer;  N. Binstead;  K. Barber;  S. Green;  A. Turner;  S. Appleby (C);  K. Merchant;  M. Alphonsi;  M. Staniford;  S. Marsh;  V. Massarella

Replacements:  C. Purdy;  S. Hemming;  L. Molding;  T. Taylor;  D. Waterman;  K. Oliver;  E. Cooke