August 9, 2017
England Beats Spain to Open Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017
Photo: INPHO/ Brian Keane
Doug Coil
England scored ten tries in beating Spain 56-5 in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. Kay Wilson scored four of the tries in this dominant win.
It took less than two minutes before England’s Megan Jones received an offload from Katy McLean, finding a gap and breaking a tackle for a try in the corner. After Katy McLean’s conversion the score was 7-0.
Two minutes later, a Harriet Millar-Mills offload to Kay Wilson resulted in an apparent try, however after a TMO, the try was nullified, resulting in a 5 meter scrum to Spain. England’s scrum pushed ahead and Leanne Riley passed the ball wide for the first of Kay Wilson’s tries. McLean again converted for a 14-0 lead.
England pressured Spain 5 meter from the line with numerous picks and goes before the call went wide left for a Kay Wilson try, increasing the lead to 19-0 at the 19th minute. At the 32nd minute, A Rachael Burford offload to Kay Wilson resulted in a hat trick try in the corner to lead 24-0.
Spain was finally able to gain their only points of the match after Patrica Garcia grubbed a loose ball ahead. After a penalty by England, Spain tapped and passed the ball wide right and a Maria Ribera offload to Diana Gasso resulted in a try to narrow the score to 24-5.
In the second half, England continued their attack as Emily Scarratt took an offload from Rachael Burford for a try three minutes into the half to increase the lead to 29-5. Harriet Millar-Mills added a try at the 51st minute and Kay Wilson added her fourth try of the match three minutes later for a 39-5 lead.
England continued to pressure Spain and Amy Cokayne blocked a clearance kick in-goal by Marina Bravo and Alex Matthews grounded the ball for a try. Emily Scarratt then converted for a 46-5 lead. (60′)
With England attacking from a lineout, Amy Cokayne added a try from a maul at the 69th minute. Lydia Thompson scored England’s tenth try of the match after an offload by Amber Reed and England gained a 56-5 win to begin their WRWC2017 campaign.
England will play Italy on Sunday August 13th, while Spain will play the USA that same day.
England 1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Ladies, 26 caps), 2. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 8 caps), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol, 11 caps), 4. Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 17 caps), 5. Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 4 caps), 6. Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 46 caps), 7. Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 32 caps), 8. Sarah Hunter (C) (Bristol, 93 caps); 9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Ladies, 11 caps) 10. Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 86 caps) 11. Kay Wilson (Richmond, 45 caps) 12. Rachael Burford (Harlequins Ladies, 67 caps) 13. Megan Jones (Bristol, 4 caps) 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 34 caps) 15. Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 70 caps) Replacements: 16. Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 28 caps), 17. Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 124 caps), 18. Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 22 caps), 19. Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 12 caps), 20. Alex Matthews (Richmond, 32 caps), 21. La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 66 caps), 22. Amber Reed (Bristol, 39 caps), 23. Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 69 caps) (VC).
Spain: 1 Saioa Jaurena 2 Aroa González (capt) 3 Jeanina Vinueza 4 Berta García 5 Maria Ribera 6 Diana Gasso 7 Paula Medlin 8 Elena Redondo 9 Anne Fernández de Corres 10 Patricia García 11 Iera Echebarria 12 Marina Bravo 13 Amaia Erbina 14 Maria Casado 15 Barbara Pla Replacements: 16 Isabel Rico 17 Isabel Macias 18 Rocio García 19 Monica Castelo 20 Angela Del Pan 21 Maria Ahis 22 Vanesa Rial 23 Carlota Meliz
England (24) 56 Tries: Wilson 4, Jones, Scarratt, Millar-Mills, Matthews, Cokayne, Thompson Cons: Mclean 2 Scarratt
Spain (5) 5 Try: Gasso
