England beat USA in u20 Tri-Nations Cup opener

England scored a lopsided 62-0 victory over the USA to open the Women’s u20 Tri-Nations Cup in Loughborough on Saturday. The defending champions scored 10 tries and threw down the gauntlet for their next opponents Canada, who they will meet on Sunday.

Phoebe Murray, Lucie Skuse, Carys Cox, and Cara Clarke crossed in the first half to help the home side to a 22-0 lead at the break. The second half was no more forgiving with Cox and Clarke grabbing doubles and singles going to Akina Gondwe, Detysha Harper, Ebony Jefferies, and Jess Cooksey.

Red Roses coach Jo Yapp is looking forward to Sunday’s decider against Canada.

“We are really pleased with the girls’ efforts overall because we wanted to play a wider game and they really tried hard to do that.

“We made a few mistakes in the first half but in the second period we started to correct those and we played simple but effective rugby which was exactly what we wanted. They worked so hard this week so to see some of it come off is really satisfying.

“The key thing now is rest and recovery. We’ll review the game and that is an opportunity for us to improve. Although we are pleased with the result, we know we can do better and will have to against Canada who will be really tough opposition.”

The USA will have a quick turnaround as they play Canada on Wednesday, kickoff noon Eastern.

 

SCORING

ENGLAND 62
Tries – P. Murray, L. Skuse, C. Cox 2, C. Clarke 2, A. Gondwe, D. Harper, E. Jefferies, J. Cooksey
Cons – L. Skuse 6

USA 0

 

TEAMS

ENGLAND u20
1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Detysha Harper, 4 Iona Antwis, 5 Hollie Cunningham, 6 Tabitha Copson, 7 Amelia Harper, 8 Ebony Jefferies, 9 Jodie Mallard, 10 Lucie Skuse, 11 Ellen Ramsbottom, 12 Megan Varley, 13 Phoebe Murray, 14 Cara Clarke, 15 Carys Cox

Replacements: 16 Connie Powell, 17 Lauren Leatherland, 18 Florence Long, 19 Eleanor Febrey, 20 Anya Richmond, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Emma Hardy, 23 Jess Cooksey

USA u20
1 Tiara A’au, 2 Saher Hamdan, 3 Tori Jones, 4 Erica Jarrell, 5 Paige Fallon, 6 Sophia Haley, 7 Elizabeth Wilson, 8 Gio Ferguson-Lewis, 9 Cassidy Bargell, 10 Darina Roe, 11 Megan Bird, 12 Morgan Freeman, 13 Nohea Uluave, 14 Ubaida Ahmed, 15 Allison Koenig

Replacements: 16 Kapoina Bailey, 17 Natalie Gray, 18 Clara Leman-Brown, 19 Matalasi Morrissette, 20 Mary-Jane Pasioles, 21 Marin Pennell, 22 Karissa Postula, 23 Joannah Skucek