England Women Under 20s earn first win of the season
England U20s Rosie Fong
By RFU Press Office
April 6 2010
England Under 20 Women recorded their first win of the season on Tuesday with a 17-7, three try victory over Wales at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.
England Women Under 20s earn first win of the season
England U20s 17 Wales U20s 7
England U20s 17 Wales U20s 7
Captain Charlotte Male - Photo Courtesy RFU
England, who bounced back from a 36-22 defeat to France last month, produced a dominant second half performance to turn around a 7-5 deficit at the break and take the victory on home soil.
Welwyn fly half Emily Scott was at the heart of England's win, scoring two tries and adding a conversion. Lock Amy Millar was also on the scoreboard for the home side.
England Under 20s Coach Kevin Moggridge said:"I am really pleased with this victory. We gave the players five key areas to work on; to be more clinical in defence and more organised, to be more aggressive at the breakdown, to get the ball out into the wider channels and to maintain contact and presentation skills and I think they achieved all of those.
"We know what Wales are all about. They are always very spirited and have got good players like their number 8 who really excelled. Their hooker and scrum half also made it difficult around the breakdown and they moved the ball well. It was a really good test and that is exactly what you want at U20s level."
Wales set the marker down early on with some good pressure, and dominated England's 22 in the opening stages. They came close to England's try line a number of times but unfortunately for the visitors they couldn't break England's line this time.
England got back on track and on their first real chance of getting out of their half they scored. A good break by centre Rose Fong saw England gain territory and although Wales later overturned England, the home side regained possession when the ball went loose and Worcester lock Amy Millar picked up on the left wing and ran in to score. Fly half Scott couldn't make the conversion.
Wales soon had their chance, however, to draw level and they did just that when scrum half Yasmin Leung got the ball out to full back Kerin Lake from a solid Welsh scrum. A good pass from Lake then saw prop Alex Stokes muscle her way over the try line to touch down. Leung added the conversion to take a 7-5 lead at the break, though they were unlucky not to go further ahead when a late barrage of attack in the first half saw Wales come close to scoring.
England, however, made a tremendous start to the second half with some good early pressure which paid off. England earned the territory and then took a good attacking line-out ten metres out. Fly-half Scott took it on, and then cut a great line through the midfield to run in unopposed and score. With Scott converting her own try England took the lead back 12-7.
Scott was back on the score sheet again with England really asserting their dominance in the second half. Another good break by Fong gave England territory. With Wales then penalised England took a quick tap penalty which saw Scott take on the ball on the right wing and score. Scott this time couldn't make the conversion but England had established a 17-7 lead.
Wales briefly threatened England's line again but a great try saving tackle by Garnet Mackinder thwarted their efforts and England took the well deserved victory.
England U20s
15 Kay Wilson (Richmond), 14 Garnet Mackinder (Lichfield), 13 Rose Fong (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 12 Amber Reed (Bristol), 11 Rebecca Hughes (Bristol), 10 Emily Scott (Welwyn), 9 Fiona Davidson (Richmond), 1 Sasha Acheson (Shelford), 2 Geraldine Thomas (OA Saints), 3 Charlotte Male (C) (Bristol), 4 Amy Millar (Worcester), 5 Stacey Maguire (Lichfield), 6 Poppy Cleall (Ellingham and Ringwood) 7 Hannah Field (Wasps), 8 Nicola Hoole (Bristol). Replacements: 16 Natalie McClarnon (Saracens), 17 Mille Fuggles (OA Saints), 18 Charlotte Wild (Loughborough), 19 Sophie Watkiss () , 20 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), 21 Rose Jay (Lichfield), 22 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Hove)
Tries: Millar, Scott (2)
Conversions: Scott
Penalties:
Substitutions: Gallagher for Acheson (62), Wild for Short, Wild for Ceall (68), Watkiss for Scott , Wilson Hardy for Hughes (both 76), McClarnon for Male (77), Jay for Davidson, Gallagher for Fong (Both 80)
Wales U20s
15 Kerin Lake (Neath Athletic), 14 Sian Perry (Altrincham Kersal), 13 Adi Taviner (C) (Neath Athletic), 12 Jess Smith (Neath Athletic), 11 Charlotte Murray (Neath Athletic), 10 Bethan Preece (Neath Athletic), 9 Yasmin Leung (UWIC), 1 Alex Stokes (Neath Athletic), 2 Amy Lawrence (Neath Athletic), 3 Lowri Harris (UWIC), 4 Jo Clarke (UWIC), 5 Shona Powell-Hughes (Neath Athletic), 6 Sian Williams (RAF), 8 Sioned Harris (UWIC), 7 Kathryn Joseph (Neath Athletic). Substitutes: 16 Natalie Stone (Pontyclun), 17 Sophie Mangano (Kidwelly), 18 Chloe Howells (Whitland), 19 Vicky Owens (UWIC), 20 Laura Marsh (Woodbridge), 21 Rhianydd Morgan (Neath Athletic), 22 Jess Kavanagh Dolgellau
Tries: Stokes
Conversions: Leung
Penalties:
Substitutions:
Half time score: England 5 Wales 7
Referee: Claire Daniels
Assistant Referees: Andi Ttofa & Sara Cox
England U20s playing schedule
France U20s v England U20s, March 21st, Sainte Nazaire, LOST 36 22
England U20s v Wales U20s, April 6th, Surrey Sports Park, Won 17 7
Wales U20s v England U20s, May 9th, venue and KO TBC
England U20s v Wales U20s, April 6th, Surrey Sports Park, Won 17 7
Wales U20s v England U20s, May 9th, venue and KO TBC