| England: (19) 58 |
| Tries: Davies 2, Ward, Breach 2, Bern, Matthews, Brown, Scarratt, Hunter Cons: Harrison 4 |
| Wales: (0) 5 |
| Try: Jones |
In front of a record crowd at Kingsholm, England thrashed a brave but ultimately out-gunned Wales to claim another Women's Six Nations bonus-point win.
After a stern challenge from Wales, it was Lark Davies who opened the scoring.
Wales went over in the second half, but England scored 10 tries.
The crowd for the England game is a record.
The previous record was set at the 2010 World Cup final.
The victory in front of a jubilant Kingsholm crowd was England's 21st win in a row and they remain at the top of the Six Nations table as they chase a fourth successive title.
England have scored more than 50 points against Wales five times in a row.
Few would dare to predict a Welsh win in Gloucester, with England three years further along the path of professionalism than Wales.
In the first half, the visitors stifled England as they were beaten at the breakdown.
Sioned Harries, making her first Wales start in over a year, made a tackle on Marlie Packer, slamming the England flanker to the floor.
England seemed determined to make use of their kicking game rather than repeating the slick offloads that helped them rack up 21 tries in their first two games.
As Wales full-back Kayleigh Powell ran back at the white wall and sliced past Jess Breach and through Packer towards England, it did not initially pay dividends.
The Kingsholm crowd was quieted as England full-back Iain Dow was taken off on a stretcher after a nasty tackle and was rushed to hospital.
It looked like a leg injury could keep her out of the World Cup, a devastating blow for England.
England immediately hauled a maul over the tryline for Davies' opening score, perhaps galvanised by a desire to perform for their team-mate and friend.
It took 16 to get over in their first two games, which is testament to the defensive efforts of Wales.
With Wales still challenging at the breakdown, England was able to cross again.
England used their backs and after a series of quick passes Jess Breach stepped round Powell to score.
The Welsh Rugby Union will need to invest more if they are to reach England's heights.
After the break, England's clinical edge came out in all its sharpness as Davies went over in another maul and Sarah Bern bulldozed her way over the gainline.
Bern and her teammates dragged in enough defenders to allow Breach to walk in for a second.
The England machine trundled on as Bern once more emulated a wing to run round defenders and across the tryline before a yellow card for Wales spelled further danger.
The forwards were confused as a bullet pass found Abbie Ward and the lock's offload sent Alex Matthews speeding over to score.
England had only conceded one try in their first two games but Wales eventually made it over as Jones broke free from a maul to score.
The tries poured in during the final 10 minutes, as has become a trademark of England.
Replacement prop Shaunagh Brown went over, then Emily Scarratt and captain Sarah Hunter came through the middle of the breakdown to bring their try tally into double figures.
Powell, Lake, Joyce, Neumann, Jones, Lake, Joyce, Wilkins, Lewis, Pyrs,Phillips, Rose, Tuipulotu, Crabb, Lillicrap, Butchers, Harries.
Replacements: Hope, Hale, Callender, Lewis, and Snowsill.
England: Harrison, L Packer, Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter.
Replacements include Powell, Brown, Galligan, Hunt, Reed, and Kildunne.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
