England Women
Wales Women
KO : 19:00
Sat 6th Feb 10
England Women Scorers
Tries: Fisher, Merchant, Scarratt, McLean, Clark
Conversions: McLean (3)
England Women Lineup
15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol)
Replacements: 16 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 18 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 19 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 20 Georgina Rozario (Bristol), 21 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 22 Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Wales Women Lineup
15 Non Evans (Cardiff Quins), 14 Aimee Young (UWIC), 13 Ceri Redman (UWIC), 12 Clare Flowers (Bristol Ladies), 11 Caryl James (Cardiff Quins), 10 Awen Thomas (Unattached), 9 Amy Day (Bristol Ladies), 1 Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins), 2 Jenny Davies (Waterloo), 3 Hannah Roberts (UWIC), 4 Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), 5 Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins), 6 Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), 7 Jamie Kift (Bristol Ladies), 8 Mellissa Berry (Blaydon) (captain)
Replacements: 16 Clare Horgan (Saracens), 17 Becky Newton (Cardiff Quins), 18 Claire Donovan (Saracens), 19 Louise Horgan (Saracens), 20 Laura Prosser (Cardiff Quins), 21 Elinor Snowsill (Loughborough), 22 Louise Rickard (Saracens)
Catherine Spencer's side ran in five tries against Wales
Getty Images
England begin title defence in style
6 February 2010, 10:14 pm ::
Match Report By Sportsbeat
England women started the defence of their RBS 6 Nations crown in fine style as they swept aside Wales 31-0 at Esher.
Fly-half Katy McLean was in commanding form for the hosts as they ran in five tries to avenge last season’s shock defeat.
Wales’ 16-15 victory in Taffs Well was their first ever victory over England and it also denied their rivals the Grand Slam but there was no mistake this time round.
England’s first-half dominance ensured that Wales were out of the contest by half time.
The hosts’ opening score came when Emily Scarratt left Wales wing Caryl James trailing in her wake before feeding the powerful Heather Fisher for a close-range score.
But another score was not long in coming after Wales surrendered possession on their 22-metre line as fly-half Awen Thomas found herself unable to escape the marauding attentions of flanker Margaret Alphonsi.
With the ball turned over, the English backs finished the job with ease as Scarratt again supplied the final pass for Katherine Merchant to score.
Scarratt grabbed a full-deserved try of her own on the stroke of half time, sending the Wales defence out wide before scything through the gap and rounding the last defender to score.
McLean added the extras, having missed two earlier conversion attempts.
McLean then scored and converted a try of her own to all but put the game beyond doubt.
Fisher emerged with a midfield turnover to feed Alphonsi before Scarratt found Fiona Pocock in space and two perfectly timed offloads later – from Pocock and Scarratt again - McLean had a clear run to the sticks.
Replacement prop Rochelle Clarke crashed over late on to cap a superb start to the Championship for the hosts.