Scarratt stars in England win

England began confidently with Player of the Match Emily Scarratt, who would go on to score 20 points, probing the corners after Marlie Packer had collected the kick-off.

Wales were forced to weather an early storm with England attacking deep in their ’22 and the first real chance of the game came when Katy Mclean kicked wide and Maggie Alphonsi got on the end of it to charge to the line.

Wales survived, but Scarratt shortly after knocked over a penalty after a burst from winger Kay Wilson.

With Packer bursting through the middle soon after, England moved it right and despite the best efforts of Sioned Harries who put in a massive hit, Scarratt picked another penalty to make it 6-0 after 18 mins.

Wales hit right back with a penalty from the impressive teenager Robyn Wilkins to reduce arrears to 6-3 but they were guilty of kicking far too much ball down the England fullback’s throat  and it was indeed Scarratt who would crash over next after quick ball saw Amber Reed punch through the middle and Scarratt get on the end of some neat passing.

She converted her own try to make it 13-3.

Wales needed a try saving tackle from impressive flyhalf Elinor Snowsill to keep Wilson out towards the end of the half but nobody could keep out Scarratt again when she finished brilliantly in the other corner minutes later.

England all but wrapped the result up right on the stroke of halftime when Wilson crossed in the corner after Kat Merchant had made all the running on the other side for a 23-3 lead at the turnaround.

Scarratt picked up where she left off right after the whistle with a searing break through the middle of of the Welsh midfield but somewhere Wales scrambled back and kept her out. It was a short reprieve though as debutant Natasha Brennan dotted down out wide seconds after coming on.

Brennan had another fine burst minutes later as the game was disrupted by both sides making a raft of replacements.

The game became stuttered before finally England broke through again through a driving maul to score their second try of the half through Alphonsi  and Scarratt converted from wide out to make it 35-3.

It was all England as the game petered out with Ceri Large almost putting Rachael Burford away before

Referee: Jess Beard (NZ)

England:15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Amber Reed (Bristol), 12 Rachael Burford (Thurrock), 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) C, 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2 Emma Croker (Richmond), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Marlie Packer (Wasps), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) VCReplacements:16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) (for Croker 48) , Natasha Brennan (for Wilson 48), Natasha Hunt (for Mason 48) , 7 Sasha Acheson (for Clarke 56), 18 Laura Keates (for Hemming 56) 19 Joanne McGilchrist (for Essex 56), 2 Ceri Large (for McLean 56), Hannah Gallagher (for Packer 61)

Wales:Elen Evans (Waterloo); Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic), Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North), Rebecca de Filippo (Bristol Ladies), Philippa Tuttiett (Bristol Ladies); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies), Amy Day (Llandaff North); Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic), Catrin Edwards (Bristol Ladies), Rachel Taylor (capt; Bristol) Ladies), Shona Powell Hughes Harries (Neath Athletic), Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North), Sioned Harries (Llandaff North), Nia Davies (Cardiff Met).Replacements: Carys Phillips (for L Harries 45), Jenny Hawkins (for Powell Hughes 45), Caryl Thomas (for Edwards 48), Megan York (For Davis 50), Sian Moore (for Day 50), Laurie Harries (for De Filippo 60), Sian Williams (for Nicholas 60)