Match Report

England purr in entertaining win over Wales

England celebrate v Wales
England outgunned Wales thanks to a succession of sublime tries in a 55-24 victory in the Women’s Summer Series.

Wales claimed a surprise early lead through Lucy Isaac but England’s quality shone through in the remainder of the first half.

Kira Leat got them on the board before a superb double from Evelyn Clarke and further highlight reel scores from Niamh Swailes and Millie Hyett put England in total control at the break.

Wales improved after half time and crossed on three occasions through props Maisie Davies and Cadi Davies and Molly Wakely but further tries from Leat, Millie David, Ellie Roberts and Sophie Langford made sure of a second successive victory for England.

Wales earlier came flying out the blocks and claimed a surprise lead inside five minutes through flanker Isaac.

The score came after England had given away a couple of cheap early penalties and Wales punished them to maximum effect as the Dragons star notched her second try in as many matches before Nel Metcalfe converted.

England rallied quickly though and reduced the arrears via a simple lineout drive, with prop Leat moving hooker Swailes out the way to dot down.

That gave England the platform they needed and they took on the role of aggressor from there, producing four sensational tries for a 29-7 half-time lead.

Clarke ran half the length to help push England ahead, collecting a clever offload from Hyett before outpacing the Welsh defence for a super corner score.

The Loughborough Lightning flyer bettered that try with an outstanding take from Ella Cromack’s cross-kick as England used the full width of the in-goal area to register a brilliant third try.

A loose Welsh return kick set up England’s fourth. Cromack gathered and spun to Millie David who danced past a few in red before offloading to Swailes and the hooker showed a remarkable turn of pace to scorch past the last two defenders.

Katie Shillaker started on the bench but made a huge impact early on in her second cap, with a powerful run and offload to reward Hyett’s clever support line.

England then struck first after the break to further their advantage courtesy of prop Leat after another irresistible lineout drive.

Wales fly-half Hanna Marshall nearly produced a score to rival England’s best but her mazy run was denied the points it deserved by a superb covering tackle from Shillaker.

Props Maisie Davies and Cadi Davies scored close-range tries in quick succession to give Wales hope but another pinpoint cross-kick from Cromack enabled Bristol Bears wing David to touch down for a seventh score which put England out of reach.

The sides then traded maul scores as Wakely crossed for Wales before Roberts responded and England had the final say through centre Langford.

Undefeated England play fellow high-flyers France on Sunday while Wales take on hosts Italy who are also looking to wrap up an unbeaten campaign.