The second row crossed twice in the first half as England raced into a 26-5 lead by half-time and they then defended stoutly to see out a convincing win.
England got off to a flying start as Tori Sellors went over for the opening score after just two minutes. Off the back of a rolling maul, Lucy Calladine broke away before offloading for her scrum-half to dive over. Lia Green converted to make it 7-0.
They almost had a second from a brilliant counter-attack, Sophie Hopkins racing into the 22, only to be denied by a tap tackle from Chisom Ugwueru. The winger then had another chance in the same passage but could not quite collect Amelia MacDougall’s cross-kick.
England were in the ascendancy and thought they had a second try when Calladine got over from a rolling maul, but it was ruled out for obstruction.
The second try came on 18 minutes, Ives Campion with a pick and go from close range as Green converted once more for a 14-0 lead.
Having been under pressure for much of the half, Ireland responded. Kate Flannery ghosted through a gap and the fly-half then offloaded for Ugwueru to run in the try. Flannery’s conversion was off-target however.
Just after the half-hour, England stretched their lead, the quick feet of Reneeqa Bonner proving deadly as she got over in the left corner after the ball had been turned over in the Ireland 22.
Green could not convert but England had the last say in the first half, with Ives Campion grabbing her second. After an attacking lineout, England went through two phases before Ives Campion popped up to dive under the posts. Green’s conversion made it 26-5.
Ireland enjoyed an extended spell in the England 22 at the start of the second half, but just could not find a way to convert it into points.
Instead, England almost got in when centres Carmela Morrall and Millie Hyett combined on a break into the Ireland 22, with Hannah Clarke doing brilliantly to get back to bring down Hyett.
But it was England who got the first try of the second half, just before the hour. From a five-metre scrum, they spread the ball wide where Morrall found Green, who burst over. She converted her own try to stretch the lead to 33-5.
England’s defence was severely tested in the second half, Ives Campion doing well to intercept a Lucia Linn pass after a break into the 22.
Eventually, the pressure told though with a wonderful try from Clarke. Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton put in a clever chip which Clarke dribbled forward on the bounce before scooping up and dotting down.
England had a late chance for a sixth try, Niamh Swailes denied as she raced away after MacDougall’s break, but it was still a very impressive display.
