France and England open with wins in Italy

England hammered Spain 61-0 scoring 11 tries in a dominant performance while France edged Italy 22-19 in a much tighter clash.

This years tournament has something of a development feel to it with all four sides competing using the opportunity to field a number of new faces.

Sides like Ireland, Scotland and Wales had chosen not to enter the tournament, focusing this summer on Sevens instead, while Spain too are focusing on the short form of the game taking 16 uncapped players to the tournament while England featured their own new faces six new caps in all in the opening day match squad.

Englands new players impressed in their first win over Spain. Debutants Lydia Thompson and Ruth Laybourn ran in a hat-trick of tries each while fellow newcomers Sally Tuson and Lauren Cattell also crossed. There were also tries for centre Kim Oliver, on her 40th cap, flanker Marlie Packer and skipper Sarah Hunter.

Graham Smith, Englands Head Coach for this tour, said: This was a really pleasing result. Considering the young players we have brought to Italy, with six of them making their debuts today, we were honestly unsure about how we would fair. However, the players have come together so well and played like a team who have been together for some time.

In the second match the hosts Italy fell just short of a win going down to France.

Fullback Jessy Tremouliere opened the scoring with an early try which she converted herself and when Koumiba Djossouvi crashed over for the second it looking like it would be a long afternoon for the Italians as France took a 12-0 lead.

However Veronica Schiavon knocked over two penalties, one before the break and one immediately afterwards to get her side back into it and when Schiavon raced over for a converted try minutes later Italy crept ahead by a point.

But France scored two tries in the final ten minted to wrap up the win the first from replacement Laetitia Salles and the second from another replacement Christelle Chobet to ensure the French team emerged victorious.

England15 Danielle Waterman (Worcester), 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester), 13. Sally Tuson (Bristol), 12.Kim Oliver (Bristol), 11. Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 10. Ceri Large (Worcester), 9.Georgina Rozario (Lichfield), 1. Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2.Emma Croker (Richmond), 3.Kate Newton (Bristol), 4. Emily Braund (Lichfield), 5.Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6.Sarah Hunter (Captain) (Lichfield), 7.Marlie Packer (Bristol), 8.Harriet Millar Mills (Lichfield).

Substitutions:Fleetwood for Croker, Keates for Clark, Crowley for Newton, Burnfield for Taylor, Sharples for Packer (all 56mins), Davidson for Rozario, Cattell for Waterman (all 62).

SPAIN. Velasco, Cabre (57 'L. Martinez), Lliteras, Schiavon, Castillon (47'Martinez M.), Urbiola (57' Gonzalez), Arnau, Aigneren, Calvin, Soriano (57 'Gallego), Redondo, Leah (44' Heras), Garcia (44 'Santiago), Castillon, Rincon (57' Rico)

Unused Subs: Sobrinos, Castle, Coast, Crespo). Herds Serantes

ItalyFurlan - Barbanti Sillari, Zangiroli, Tedeschi (Ferrari, 12-22) - (o) Schiavon, (m) Barattin - Zublena Nespoli, Arrighetti - Trevisan, Molic - Gay, Ballarini (Zanon, 40), Coulibaly ( Bettoni, 57)

FranceTremoulire - Saubusse, Poublan, Godiveau (Raymond, 24), Esteve - (o) Agricultural, (m) Yahe (cap) (Troncy, 40) - Forlani, Andr (Diallo, 64), Djoussouvi - Bouisset, Rabier ( N'Diaye, 40) - Portaries (Chobet, 40), Mignot (Rooms, 64), Vernhet (Arricastre, 40)