No problems for England in Italy

The preparation of both sides was significantly disrupted by a change of venue due to the weather with the game eventually moved from Milan to Recco near Genoa and played on an artificial pitch.

England ran in seven tries with Rochelle Clark, Emily Scarratt, Ceri Large, Michaela Staniford, Rachael Burford and Georgina Roberts all crossing while Scarratt grabbed three conversions to add to a penalty try.

The visiting side were quick off the mark, almost scoring out wide through Kat Merchant, who was a late replacement for Georgina Roberts, just two minutes in before eventually going ahead with a try for Clarke coming from a good catch and drive off a lineout and Scarratt added the kick for a 7-0 lead. .

Scarratt was on the scoreboard again just moments later with her own try. She started off the move with a good counter attack in Englands 22 taking the ball through to the midfield. Buford was tackled to the ground but with La Toya Mason taking a quick tap penalty, Englands forwards took the ball on with Scarratt then finishing off the move which she converted.

Roberts was next to cross the line but this time Scarratt missed the conversion and England then went a player down with Clark sent to the sin bin. Italys reward was a penalty, which fly-half Michela Tondinelli converted, but that was all the hosts could manage with England unsettled by Clarks departure. In fact try number four was soon in the making with fly-half Ceri Large running in for a 34th minute score. Scarratt again converted, handing England a 26-3 lead at half time.

Italys determination never faltered though and after the break they defended well to keep anymore scores coming in until 60 minutes had passed. England had run close several times before then and in the end Italy were penalised with a penalty try handed to the visitors which Scarratt converted with ease.

Staniford, a late call-up to Englands squad for this game, then added try number six just before full-time following a move which young flanker Hannah Gallagher had started. Centre Burford then added Englands seventh and final try in extra time to make the final score 43-3.

England Head Coach Gary Street said: Were delighted to get another win under our belts. The performance was a mixed bag really. Some of our tries were world class and we showed some real brilliance but we also struggled a bit. We tried too hard sometimes with passes going amiss or by making simple mistakes.

Next up we face Wales at Twickenham in two weeks time. We now have a week to iron out some areas of our game as we know Wales will like nothing better than inflicting a win on us on our home turf.

Italys team manager Cristina Tonna thanked the organisers at the ground for running the game at short notice. "I would firstly like to thank all the members of the Rugby Parabiago who in recent days have put a lot of effort into making sure that the game was being played. Their efforts unfortunately were in vain as the pitch in Milan wasnt playable and I do apologise to the fans who were planning to attend that venue. I want to thank Recco Rugby whose members did very well to organise it all at late notice.

England:Scarratt, Katherine Merchant, Rachael Burford (VC), Kimberley, Georgina Roberts, Ceri Large, La Toya Mason, Rochelle Clark, Amy Turner, Laura Keates, Rowena Burnfield, Tamara Taylor, Isabelle Noel-Smith, MarliePacker, Sarah Hunter (C)

Scores:Tries: Clark, Scarratt, Roberts, Large, PT, Staniford, Burford; Conversions: Scarratt (3)

Substitutions: Staniford for Merchant (25), Purdy for Noel Smith (39, R HT), Rozario for Mason (HT), Braund for Taylor (HT), McLean for Large (50), Gallagher for Packer (55), Purdy for Clark (66), Fleetwood for Turner (66)

Italy:15 Furlan; 14 Castellarin (70 Sillari); 13 Cioffi, 12 Zangirolami; 11 Veronese (60 Tondinelli), 10 Schiavon Ver., 9 Chindamo, 8 Severin (73 Pettinelli), 7 Gaudino, 6 Este, 5 Molic, 4 Trevisan (41 Campanella), 3 Gai (65 Nespoli), 2 Zanon (55 Ballarini) (73 Zanon), 1 Nespoli (43 Bettoni). All. Di Giandomeniico e Porrino.

Scores: Penalty: TONDINELLI

*pic thanks to Rugby Matters