Reigning champs off to a flier

England were 27-0 up at half-time having scored five tries and added another four after the break as Scotland struggled to contain a rampant away side who dominated throughout.

But while the scoreline was comfortable, England won it 47-0, Scotland will take some heart from their defensive effort in the second half where they did manage to make their superior opponents work far harder for scores.

Bristols flanker Marlie Packer helped settled Englands nerves early on with the first try after just four minutes. Kat Merchant and England vice-captain Sarah Hunter had come close to scoring, but on a third attacking line-out just five metres out Scotland were penalised and England took a quick penalty and Packer took the ball on and scored. Skipper Katy McLean couldnt make the conversion, a pattern that followed throughout the match in the blustery conditions, leaving the score at 5-0.

The missed conversion didnt matter though with England soon taking a 10-0 lead. This time Rachael Burford, who had an impressive game at centre, burst through the midfield after the restart. Emily Scarratt then took the ball on and chipped ahead, and as she was taken out, Staniford continued the chase to secure the ball and then touch down.

Try number two came Stanifords way just before the half hour mark after Scarratt made a good break through a weak Scotland defence. Full-back Kay Wilson came close to scoring, but in the end it was Staniford who finished off another impressive move for the visitors.

With ten minutes remaining England ran in a further two tries. Rowena Burnfield was first and then Kat Merchant secured try number five, a score that started in Englands 22 with Scarratt providing the vital power and pace to offload to Merchant on the wing to make the score 27-0 at half-time.

Scotland game out more determined in the second period and tough work in defence saw England forced to work much harder for their inevitable further scores, with Lindsay Wheeler catching the eye with her hard tackling.

But England were soon running in scores again, Merchant securing her second touchdown after just 49 minutes. Scrum-half Natasha Hunt then added to Englands tally with a 52ndminute score, when again Staniford came close, but couldnt quite finish it off.

Flanker Harrier Millar-Mills, on just her second game for England, was at the heart of Englands eighth try, taking good ball from the back of the scrum to feed out to Burford. Burford executed a nice pass to Scarratt who then scored under the posts. Bristols Isabelle Noel-Smith then rounded off Englands evening with her first international try on 80 minutes to make the final score 47-0.

Staniford was awarded the MOTM award.

Scotland Women's Team: Stephanie Johnston (RHC Cougars), Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Dixon (Stirling County), Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (captain), Anna Swan (RHC Cougars), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Charlotte Veale (Wasps), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond)

Substitutes: 16 Lindsey Smith (Darlington Mowden Park), 17 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Murrayfield Wanderers), 18 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), 19 Kath Muir (RAF), 20 Tess Forsberg (Richmond), 21 Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), 22 Caroline Collie (OA Saints)

England Women's Team:Kay Wilson (Bristol), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Rachael Burford (Richmond), Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C), Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), Claire Purdy(Wasps), Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Harriet Millar-Mill (Lichfield), Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), Marlie Packer (Bristol), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) (VC)

Replacements:Noel Smith for Hunter, Large for McLean, Braund for Gallagher (all 61 mins), Turner for Fleetwood, Rozario for Hunt, Roberts for Wilson, Keates for Hemming (all 68)