An England Select XV turned on the style in the second half to defeat the Swedish national side 36-5 in an entertaining encounter at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire today.
England, a scratch side comprised of some of the country's most promising players, took a little time to settle and conceded an early try to Sweden's left wing Charlotta Westin.
But they were on level terms again before the break and stepped up the pace in the second half when they ran in five unanswered tries in a performance that pleased coach Gary Street, the England Women Academy coach.
"The first time the side got together was this morning so there wasn't a great deal of time to prepare," Street said.
"But we ended the game with ten players who went on the recent Under-19 tour to Canada on the pitch and they suggested that they will have a future in the full international side.
"The fact that they had played together in Canada gave us some cohesion and the overall performance was very pleasing."
Centre Jo Whatmore of Thirsk scored England's first and second tries, both of them unconverted, which cancelled out Westin's early effort from Sweden.
England's superior fitness told in the second half as Sweden began to fade under increasing pressure with full-back Meg Youdan (Chester) crossing for the third try which fly-half Alice Richardson (Worcester) improved.
Replacement Tina Lee then accepted a scoring pass from Youdan to score the fourth, which Richardson improved. Lee then turned provider to set up hooker Emma Layland and replacement number eight Helen Clewer was driven over for the final try which Richardson again converted.
Worcester winger Kim Shaylor made her return to international action as a replacement for Whatmore for the final 20 minutes of the game. Shaylor, who has 16 full caps, missed England's recent Six Nations Grand Slam campaign because of an ankle ligament injury.
"Kim came through well," Street said. "It was good to see her back in action and she looked very sharp."
Sweden play the England Women Students at RAF Halton on Sunday April 16 at 2pm.
England Women Select XV: 15 Meg Youdan (Chester); 14 Adrianne McAlpine (Wasps), 13 Jo Whatmore (Thirsk), 12 Rachael Burford (Henley), 11 Anna Shepherd (Plymouth Albion); 10 Alice Richardson (Worcester), 9 Abi Mowbray (thirsk); 1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Emma Layland (Richmond), 3 Kathryn Persey (UWIC), 4 Emma Dresser (Lichfield - captain), 5 Clare Turner (Bristol University), 6 Katy White (Worcester), 7 Sonia Green (Saracens), 8 Jo McBain (North Tawton). Replacements: Rox Crowley (Lichfield ) for Persey, Sara Anastasi (Henley) for Turner, Hannah Shield (Thirsk) for Layland, Helen Clewer (Lichfield) for McBain, Lorna Smith (Thirsk) for Shepherd, Tina Lee (Richmond) for Burford, Kim Shaylor (Worcester) for Whatmore. |
