March 11th, 2007

Tries for Jo Watmore, Sonia Green and Vicky Massarella handed England A Women their first victory of the season against their French counter-parts at Old Albanians RFC on Sunday.

Amanda Bennett’s side always looked in control throughout the international clash and despite the limited time the team have had together they clearly impressed the crowd in St. Albans with a cohesive and flowing performance.

Thirsk fullback Jo Watmore put England A off to an impressive start with a try just seven minutes in. The score, however, certainly was the result of team effort with England pushing France deep into their 22 from the first whistle. Eventually the pressure proved too much and Watmore galloped over the line on the right wing. Wasps fly-half Shelley Rae added the conversion.

It took 21 minutes for England to get on the score-board again, but they could have easily been out of sight earlier with two missed try scoring opportunities just minutes before. It did not matter though with Saracens flanker Sonia Green benefiting from a clearance kick that was charged down by Plymouth Albion’s Georgina Rozario deep in France’s 22. Rae again added the conversion to hand England a 14-0 lead at the break.

The tourists bounced back after the restart with France wing Hayate Chrouki showing a turn of speed that England couldn’t catch on the left wing. Fly-half Sandrine Agricole added the conversion.

England, however, despite some fierce French pressure managed to put themselves out of reach with their third and final try courtesy of replacement fullback Vicky Massarella. The England pack did much of the hard work in creating the space and pressure in France’s 22, but when England weren’t able to convert some furious drives into points Massarella opted to take a quick tap penalty and it worked with the Saracens player diving over the line.  Rae again converted to hand England A victory at Old Albanians RFC.

England A Head Coach Amanda Bennett said: “We came here to play a good game of rugby today and to get all 22 players involved and we did just that. We kicked for position brilliantly and that gave us the ability to apply the pressure on France. We also defended very well today and that was why France weren’t able to get any momentum going.”
 
England A:

1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 3 Katie Smith (Richmond), 4 Becky Essex (Richmond), 5 Emma Dresser (Lichfield), 6 Sonia Green (Saracens), 7 Jane Leonard (Wasps), 8 Leah Carey (Lichfield), 9 Georgia Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 10 Shelley Rae (Wasps) (captain), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Georgina Roberts (Thirsk), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Joanne Watmore (Thirsk). Replacements: 16 Ollie Poore (Lichfield), 17 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 18 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 19 Sara Anastasi (Richmond), 20 Harriet Slynn (Richmond), 21 Vicky Massarella (Saracens), 22 Vicky Jackson (Lichfield).

Tries: Watmore, Green, Massarella
Conversions: Rae (3)
Penalties:
Substitutions: All bench on

France A:

1 Natascia FILIPPUCCI (Limoges), 2 Clemence OLLIVIER (Rennes), 3  Celine BARTHELEMY (Chilly Essonne), 4 Dominque CUBIAT (Herm), 5 Hasna RHAMOUNI-BAAZIZ (Nanterre), 6 Nathalie PIVET (Dijon), 7 Emilie COURTOIS (Rennes), 8 Aida BA (Bobigny), 9 Stephanie PROVOST (Caen) Captain, 10 Sandrine AGRICOLE (Rennes), 11 Christine PATIN (Dijon), 12  Sabrina DELMAS (Saint Orens), 13 Marie Alice YAHE (Montpellier), 14 Marie BOURRET (Toulouges), 15 Aurelie BAILON (Toulouges). Replacements: 16 Melissa LAMOUR (Romagnat), 17 Celine MOREAU (Dijon), 18 Clemence AUDEBERT (Gennevilliers), 19 Audrey DEBAST (Grande Synthe), 20 Guenaelle Mahe (Rennes), 21 Caroline SUNE (Montpellier), 22 Hayate CHROUKI (Nanterre).

Tries: Chrouki,
Conversions: Agricole
Penalties:
Substitutions:

Half-time score: England Women A 14 France Women A 0

Referee: Keith Lewis
Touch Judge 1: Charles Osbourn
Touch Judge 2: Rebecca Patrick

Ends…