Twin sisters Bryony and Poppy Cleall scored a try each as England made an impressive start to their Women’s Six Nations title defence with a comfortable 52-10 win against Scotland.
The defending champions ran in eight tries in Doncaster and had a bonus point sewn up by half-time in a ruthless display against their Pool A rivals.
Marlie Packer scored the first try of the 2021 Championship in the 10th minute, while Leanne Riley, Lark Davies, Bryony Cleall and Jess Breach also crossed before half-time.
Helena Rowland added a sixth before Scotland scored their first try of the Championship through Hannah Smith after the break.
But a red card to Molly Wright gave England the upper hand late on and No.8 Poppy Cleall powered over before a late penalty try wrapped up the win.
ENGLAND WARM TO THE TASK
In the build-up to this game, England head coach Simon Middleton said any of his 38-player squad could start in this Championship and there wouldn’t be a drop-off in performance.
As if to prove they all deserved their place, the XV he did pick made a quick start and immediately gained the front foot in Doncaster.
Carries from Zoe Aldcroft and Poppy Cleall took England within five metres of the Scotland line but an overcooked cross-field kick from Rowland meant they left without points.
Scotland more than held their own in the opening ten minutes but England broke through when Packer dived over from close range after some neat hands from Cleall and her twin sister Bryony.
The champions added their second midway through the first half, when scrum-half Riley picked her way through a crowd with some excellent footwork.
Scotland got on the board in the 23rd minute as they converted their first visit to the 22 into three points, courtesy of Helen Nelson’s penalty, but England responded quickly with a try from a driving maul, finished off by Davies.
As the half progressed, the champions’ confidence increased and they started to move the ball quicker and pop more offloads.
Bryony Cleall – back in the England set-up two years on from her last cap – secured the bonus point by finishing off a move that included a brilliant offload from her twin sister Poppy.
And winger Breach added a fifth just before half-time, as she collected a Rowland cross-field kick, beat a couple of tackles and sprinted under the posts.
SCOTLAND FIGHT BACK BEFORE STRONG ENGLAND FINISH
Scotland lost Lisa Thomson to a sin-bin at the end of the first half and England continued to rack up the points, with Breach dancing past a couple of tackles down the left and setting up Rowland to score.
Scotland rebounded with some pressure of their own and this time England cracked, with Poppy Cleall sent to the sin-bin. The visitors took full advantage, with Hannah Smith burrowing over after a Mairi McDonald break.
England were then reduced to 13 players, as hooker Davies was also shown yellow for a high tackle in the 58th minute.
However, Scotland had a player sent off themselves on 64 minutes when the TMO caught a dangerous tackle from replacement hooker Wright.
England quickly found themselves with a player advantage as Davies returned to the pitch and they stretched the Scotland defence in search of more tries, with Rowland almost finding Ellie Kildunne with a cross-field kick.
They did score a seventh try eight minutes from time as Poppy Cleall dotted down underneath a pile of bodies from a driving maul.
There was still time for a late penalty try, as England’s forwards made a strong finish to the game, while Scotland finished with 13 players as Louise McMillan was sent to the bin.
