England lift Nations Cup crown

Canada 19 England 41

The England womens rugby side comfortably secured their second title of the year as they added the Nations Cup to their Six Nations crown with a 41-19 victory over Canada.

England lead 17-11 at the break but a powerful second period for Gary Streets charges was too much for the host nation. Amy Garnett became the first England womens player to win 100 caps in the game.

Street will return to England quietly satisfied with his charges. Having taken five uncapped players to the tournament and seeing the return of long term injured players like Alice Richardson and Claire Allen will be a major positive going into the bigger tests later this year against New Zealand, and with others such as Amy Turner and Charlotte Barras set to return, two titles in the year so far will be satisfactory.

Its likely too that Street has learned plenty more about how different combinations and players are shaping up in a post World-Cup year in this tournament than in the Six Nations with a number of changes made in key positions for every game.

Despite a comprehensive final day defeat, Canada can take many positives from the tournament they hosted. They will probably be most pleased with their win over major rivals the USA but they will know too that they are on the right path towards building something positive with a new-look squad. For the first half in the final they looked a good match for England but they ran out of steam later in the match, something they will need to look at.

Scoring 19 points will also be pleasing England havent shipped many points this year, in fact that tally is more than they conceded in all of their Six Nations games combined this year. The form of players like Kelly Russell and Mandy Marchak will stand them in great stead as they develop their programme for the next World Cup.

The game itself saw Canada start well with Laura Russell dashing through Englands defense for an early break which England did well to halt. Despite the near attempts from Canada to score a try, the first points were taken by Englands Emily Scarratt with a penalty kick.

Canada, nevertheless, fought back hard and Andrea Burk added an eight minute penalty to draw the scores level.

Flanker Maggie Alphonsi then grabbed Englands first try. Captain Katy McLean made a good break and Alphonsi, placed in an open position and in support, ran through the Canadian defence to score. Scarratt easily stroked over the conversion to give England a 10-3 lead.

Kat Merchant then eased England into a 3-15 lead when McLean made another great break from a scrum. With Merchant in support the flying wing outpaced three Canadians to score in the corner. Scarratt had a tricky kick to convert in the corner but she did handing England a 3-17 lead.

Canada returned the fire with some brilliant footwork, as Jen Kish bypassed several defenders to score their first try. That wasnt converted but the hosts managed to reduce Englands lead to 11-17 with a 40th minute penalty.

After the break England though took total control showing real strength all over the park. Again Merchant made a good break, and Alphonsi was in support to take the pass. The flanker was taken down in the tackle but England retained possession and recycled the ball out to Richardson who broke through the middle of Canadas defense to score down the wing and in the corner. Scarratt was unable to add the conversion but England still had an 11 point advantage.

Canada hit back with their second penalty with Phillips adding the points, but England maintained their momentum and were duly rewarded with No. 8 Hunter powering over the try line from a good England scrum. Scarratt again converted.

On 68 minutes Claire Allan added Englands fifth try as England turned over Canada in the scrum. England recycled the ball well through to Allan in the midfield and executing a great side-step the Richmond centre touched down to score. Scarratt couldnt add the conversion this time but England were firmly in control with a 14-34 lead.

Canadas spirits never dampen though and a valiant effort from their backline saw inside centre Mandy Marchak bag a last minute try, though it was England who had the final say with Alphonsi securing her brace of tries on the stroke of full-time as she stole the ball from a Canadian line-out and burst through to score. With McLean this time adding the conversion England secured the 41-19 victory and the Nations Cup crown for a fourth successive tournament.

Canadas Head Coach John Tait stated the team fell off their game plan.

We lost out on a lot of one-on-one tackles and let it get to us. We have to work on our tackles because our top players are lacking it right now. We have three years now to work towards the World Cup that we now need to address.

Head Coach Street said: This tournament victory sums up exactly why we come to play in tournaments like the Nations Cup. The standard and intensity of the rugby this year has meant we have had to perform to world class level and that is vital as we build towards our autumn international programme.

England: Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Katherine Merchant (Worcester),Claire Allan ( Richmond), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Kay Wilson (Richmond), Katy McLean (C) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), La Toya Mason (Wasps),Claire Purdy (Wasps), Amy Garnett (Saracens), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), Margaret Alphonsi (VC) (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield). Replacements: 1Vicky Fleetwood (Lichfield), Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 18 Jenny Brightmore (Worcester), 19 MarliePacker (Bristol), 20 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 21 Sarah McKenna (Old Albanians Saints), 22Michaela Staniford (Wasps)

Substitutions: Clark for Purdy (48), Staniford for Wilson (54), Packer for Burnfield (60), Fleetwood for Garnett (60), Hunt for Mason (60), Brightmore for Hunter (66), McKenna for Richardson (68).

Canada1. Laura Russell (Toronto Nomads)2. Kim Donaldson (Burnaby Lake RFC)3. Brandi van Eeuwen (Lethbridge RFC)4. Danielle Rowlands (Calgary Hornets)5. Maria Jaworski (Calgary Hornets)6. Kelsey Willoughby (Lethbridge RFC)7. Jen Kish (Lep Tigers)8. Kelly Russell (Toronto Nomads)9. Laura Stoughton (Calgary Hornets)10. Ghislaine Landry (Toronto Scottish)11. Julianne Zussman (Town of Mount Royal RFC)12. Mandy Marchak (Capilano)13. Andrea Burk (Capilano)14. Cheryl Phillips (Toronto Scottish)15. Brittany Waters