Despite some spirited defence from centre Levi Hallett and a brave performance from lock Sioned Harries, Mared Evans’s side suffered a similar fate to that of Mel Berry’s, only this time on home soil at Taffs Well RFC in the first fixture between the two countries at this age group.
England Women U20 wing Natasha Hunt helped herself to a hat-trick of tries as the visitor’s built on a 0-19 interval lead to end convincing 0-31 winners. Nicole Hoole and Isabelle Noel-Smith also crossed as England Women U20 produced five tries in total.
England Women took the lead on 11 minutes as Hunt broke the line from five metres out following a move from a turnover scrum which Emily Scarratt converted. Hunt bagged a brace nine minutes later after being set up by Scarratt who again duly converted the try.
At half time the scoreline was 19-0 to England Women U20 after Noel-Smith’s 31st minute try from five metres out coming from a move from another blindsided scrum. Scarratt missed the conversion on this occasion.
Nicola Hoole took just five minutes to get her captain’s try after the restart with Hunt and Scarratt feeding the flanker’s opportunity on the right wing. Hunt’s hat-trick was completed on 65 minutes with a cross beneath the post.
Wales Women U20 will meet England Women U20 again on 26th March 2008 at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire, 2pm kick-off.
Wales Women U20: Mared Evans (Capt); Rachel Green, Levi Hallett, Ceri Redman, Sam Hill; Bethan Preece, Laura Marsh; Becky Newton, Amy Lawrence, Lowri Harries, Sian Williams, Sioned Harries, Carys John (Vice Capt), Amy Thompson, Vicky Owens
Replacements: Issy Jones, Carley Powell, Megan Snape, Rachel Jones, Hannah Lerwill, Jade Phillips, Sophie Francis
England Women U20: Emily Scarratt, Natasha Hunt, Rose Fong, Rhiannon Parker, Samantha Bree, Claire Garner, Sarah Guest, Laura Keates, Victoria Fleetwood, Victoria Cornborough, Rowena Burnfield, Charlotte Wild, Nicola Hoole (Capt); Isabelle Noel-Smith, Louise Leonard
Replacements: Elizabeth Peak (for Cornborough 55), Davinia Monteiro (for Fleetwood 40), Charlotte Male (for Garner 70), Marlie Packer (for Hoole 47), Rachel Fraser (for Guest 55), April Brown (for Parker 47), Kimberly Davy (for Bree 60)
Scorers
Tries: Hunt (11, 20, 65), Noel-Smith (31), Hoole (45)
Con: Scarratt (3)
Referee: Gary Davies
TJ1: Gareth Rees
TJ2: Gareth Butler