England Women on a French flier

12 October 2012

Four wins from four for England
Tries for Matthews and McGilchrist on their debuts

Mathews scores on her England Sevens debut

Photo: rugbymatters.nete

In their first Sevens tournament of the new season England Women have cruised into day two of the France International Sevens with four wins from four at the Centre National de Rugby, in Marcoussis.

Despite Head Coach Barry Maddocks naming a relatively inexperienced squad, with three players making their international sevens debuts, England appeared relatively untroubled throughout the day.

England opened their account with a 22-5 victory over close rivals Spain with Katherine Merchant grabbing a hat-trick of tries before another convincing 19-5 win over France A. In that game, Joanna McGilchrist, on her Sevens debut, touched down for her first try of the afternoon while Natasha Brennan scored a brace.

In England’s third game, against professional outfit the Netherlands, England powered to a convincing 24-5 victory with the Dutch trycoming in the dying minutes of the game.

Germany then proved little opposition for the on-form England team who ran in eight tries – three for Leanne Riley and one for Alexandra Matthews on her debut – in an impressive 42-0 win.

Next-up England take on France in the last pool game of the tournament on Saturday before the Finals round.

Maddocks said: “This has been a good day. Considering the players have had so little time together they have played exceptionally well and they really have done themselves proud.

“All the games were testing, and that is largely because this is not a side who have played together before. The players’ work-rate was fantastic and they have listened and put into practice when we wanted them to do.

“Tomorrow, playing France in the first game, is huge but I know that if we play as well as we have done today then we have the potential to make the cup final.”

England Sevens

Claire Allan (VC) (Richmond), Natasha Brennan (Wasps), Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond), Sarah Guest (Worcester), Alexandra Matthews (Richmond), Francesca Matthews (Richmond), Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), Sarah McKenna (Wasps), Katy McLean (C) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Leanne Riley (Saracens), Sally Tuson (Bristol)

France Sevens Schedule:

England 22 Spain 5

Tries: Merchant 3, Chamberlain

Conversions: McLean

England 19 France 5

Tries: Brennan (2), McGilchrist

Conversions: McKenna, McLean

England 24 Holland 5

Tries: Chamberlain, Tuson, Merchant (2)

Conversions: McLean, McKenna

England 42 Germany 0

Tries: Matthews, Riley (3), Brennan, McGilchrist