England Women's U20s Team announced to face Scotland
By RFU Press Office
March 8 2011
England Women’s Under 20s Coach Amanda Bennett has rung the changes for Saturday’s inaugural clash against Scotland at Gosforth RFC, kick off 6pm.
| Eng Women U20s Team Announced to face Scotland |
Following the U20s’ impressive 12-5 victory over France two weeks ago, Bennett makes eight changes to the first XV. Only Bristol quartet Daniker Wilmore, Sarah George, Lucy Demaine and Katie Mason, Lichfield’s Fiona Fletcher, Newquay Hornets’ Kayleigh Callaway-Bawden and Worcester’s Ceri Large start a second consecutive game. Bennett said: “We are looking forward to playing Scotland U20s for the first time ever and we have selected another team with great potential. Some changes to the squad have been forced due to injury but we have also made a commitment to players that they would be given an opportunity to show us what they can do. Megan Oaten and Geri Thomas were not involved in the France game but I know they will want to seize this chance to shine. “There is a mix of experience in that there are several Premiership players included as well as new faces to U20s rugby and the focus will once again be on team performance – doing the basics well. This was our priority against France and, whilst we learned a great deal about how this squad can play, we also learned just how tough they can be under pressure. “Unquestionably one of the biggest highlights of the win over France was the way in which players responded to a fierce and physical French team who played with great confidence. Despite conceding an early try and facing a barrage of French ball carrying, England regrouped, built a platform of possession and by the middle of the second half had almost complete control of the game. Although there is much to work on, the composure and maturity showed by the team bodes well for what will be an extremely tough year with games against some of the world’s best U20s teams.” Lock Fletcher will captain the young guns with Worcester scrum half Charlotte Keane as vice captain. Bennett added: “Although there has not previously been an U20s fixture between these two countries, we can expect Scotland to be highly competitive. With this in mind, we will focus our preparation on the essential elements of our game, namely the quality of possession and our decision making at key points. A win would be good but it is the performance that matters most.” England (Club, CB, Division) 15 Rachel Roberts (Gloucester, South West) 14 Katie Mason (Bristol, Somerset, South West) 13 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, Sussex, South West) 12 Ceri Large (Worcester, South West) 11 Lucy Demaine (Bristol, Devon, South West) 10 Emily Scott (Thurrock, Essex, London & South East) 9 Charlotte Keane (VC) (Worcester, South West) 1 Daniker Willmore (Bristol, South West) 2 Charlie Notman (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West) 3 SarahGeorge (Bristol, South West) 4 Abbie Scott (Keswick, Cumbria,North) 5 Fiona Fletcher (C) (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands) 6 Kayleigh Callaway-Bawden (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West) 7 Megan Oaten(Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West) 8 Alexandra Matthews (London Irish, Surrey, London & South East) Replacements: 16 Geri Thomas (OA Saints, Hertfordshire, London & SE) 17 Emily Kingston (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West) 18 Harriet Mills (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands) 19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East) 20 Fiona Davidson (Richmond, Surrey, London & South East) 21 Natasha Jones (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands) 22 Leanne Riley (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands)
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England Women U20s stormed to a 77-0 victory against Scotland on Saturday night, running in an impressive 13 tries at Gosforth RFC.
In the first ever fixture between the two sides at this level, Saracens’ Hannah Gallagher ran in a hat-trick of tries while there were also braces for Bristol wing Lucy Demaine and Worcester scrum half Charlotte Keane.
The victory was the second on the bounce for the England U20s who defeated France 12-5 two weeks ago at Worcester.
England U20s Coach Amanda Bennett said: “It is great to have a two from two win record. We had a lot of control and possession in this game and our decision making was very good. We scored some good tries, won good ball, created spaces and we did the basics very well. Overall I am very pleased.
“We play Wales next month and they are very different opposition to both France and Scotland. Having lost to them once last season we know we need to keep improving but we have got six weeks to regroup and I am sure we can step up to the challenge.”
Bristol centre Amy Wilson-Hardy opened up the score sheet for the England U20s after just six minutes. A penalty gave England the opportunity to kick to the corner and England took their line-out well with Wilson Hardy crashing over the try line. Thurrock fly half Emily Scott added the conversion.
Bristol’s Demaine kept England’s cause on track with a 13th minute try and her first of the evening. Another good line-out saw England attack through the mid-field with Demaine then getting her chance and she made no mistake. Scott this time couldn’t make the conversion.
Worcester centre Ceri Large handed England a 19-0 lead with a 23rd minute converted try. Some good work by both the forwards and the backs saw England dominate possession and with Large then showing good footwork, she found the line.
Gloucester fullback Rachel Roberts soon matched Large’s efforts when a turn over ball handed Demaine space. Some good work by the forwards then created space for Roberts on the right wing.
Saracens flanker Gallagher was then on the score board for her first two tries touching down on 28 and 32 minutes respectively, before scrum half Keane rounded off the first half proceedings for England. With Scott adding two further conversions England led 43-0 going into the break.
The one way traffic continued after the restart with Gallagher again taking the spoils, this time after some good continuity work by the forwards. Scott, however, couldn’t make the conversion.
Bristol wing Katie Mason was next to add her name to the score sheet. She benefitted from a good scrum which saw No. 8 Alex Matthews pick up and go. Keane then fed the ball out to Mason who ran in to score in the corner, making England’s lead an impressive 53-0.
No. 9 Keane added her second try of the evening on 60 minutes as did Demaine on 67 minutes. Leanne Riley, making her U20s debut, then picked up try number 12 for England. Some good pressure by the home side led to a turn over, and some quick hands saw the ball moved out to the midfield. Riley then cut a good line and scored left of the posts. Large this time converted.
Skipper Fiona Fletcher then made the most of an error by Scotland in their line out when they lost the ball, and Fletcher pounced on it to dive over the try line. Large couldn’t make the conversion, handing England a 77-0 victory.
England (Club, CB, Division)
15 Rachel Roberts (Gloucester, South West), 14 Katie Mason (Bristol, Somerset, South West), 13 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, Sussex, South West), 12 Ceri Large (Worcester, South West), 11 Lucy Demaine (Bristol, Devon, South West), 10 Emily Scott (Thurrock, Essex, London & South East), 9 Charlotte Keane (VC) (Worcester, South West), 1 Daniker Willmore (Bristol, South West), 2 Charlie Notman (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West), 3 SarahGeorge (Bristol, South West), 4 Abbie Scott (Keswick, Cumbria,North), 5 Fiona Fletcher (C) (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands), 6 Kayleigh Callaway-Bawden (Newquay Hornets (Queen Bees), Cornwall, South West), 7 Megan Oaten(Bristol, Gloucestershire, South West), 8Alexandra Matthews (London Irish, Surrey, London & South East). Replacements: 16 Geri Thomas (OA Saints, Hertfordshire, London & SE), 17 Emily Kingston (Gloucester, Gloucestershire, South West), 18 Harriet Mills (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands), 19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens, Hertfordshire, London & South East), 20 Fiona Davidson (Richmond, Surrey, London & South East), 21 Natasha Jones (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands), 22 Leanne Riley (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands).
Tries: Wilson Hardy, Demaine (2), Large, Roberts, Gallagher (3), Keane (2), Mason, Riley, Fletcher
Conversions: Scott (5), Large
Substitutions: Gallagher for Callaway Bawden (18), Thomas for Notman (51), Kingston for George (57), Davidson for Keane, Jones for E. Scott (61), Riley for Wilson Hardy, Mills for Matthews (both 70),
Scotland
15 O'Donnell Lyndsay (Stirling County), 14 Nimmo Sarah (Edinburgh Uni), 13 Gaffney Megan (Murrayfield Wanderers), 12 Ingils Gillian (Melrose), 11 Cree Carmen (Hillhead Jordanhill), 10 Davidson Hollie (Edinburgh Uni), 9 Sedgeworth Caitlin (Murrayfield Wanderers), 1 McCall Kirsty (Royal High Cougars), 2 Quick Sarah (Captain) (Murrayfield Wanderers), 3 Forsyth Mairi (Hillead Jordanhill), 4Verweijmeren Katie (FR) (Cartha Queens Park), 5 Hogwood Sarah(Morgan), 6 Skeldon Lana (Melrose), 7 Haile Iona (Royal High Cougars), 8 SmithHannah (Stirling County). Replacements: 16 Blackwood Shelby (FR) (Cartha Queens Park), 17 Syme Catriona (Murrayfield Wanderers), 18 Murray Rachel (Murrayfield Wanderers), 19 Campbell Julie (Oban Lorne RFC), 20 Robertson Lisa (Watsonians), 21 Bell Sarah(Morgan), 22 Gilmartin Victoria (Morgan)
Referee: Steve Penfold
Assistant Referees: Helen Ashman & Nikki O’Donnell
Half time score:England U20s 43 Scotland U20s 0