England Women made a solid if error strewn start to their World Cup campaign with a bonus-point win over Ireland at Guildford. Playing with the wind, England scored their opener on 8 minutes through wing Fiona Pocock, with Katy McLean adding the extras. It now all looked good for a simple win, but the errors came in and it was not until 36 minutes that Katherine Merchant went over to give us the half-time score of 12-0.
The second period and with the wind Ireland upped the tempo and had their chances, but when the next score came from Amy Turner on 55 minutes, England’s win was looking secure. England were now searching for the bonus point but after being repelled several times by Ireland Spencer opted for the points on 73 minutes 20-0. But they were not done and player of the match Maggie Alphonsi
powered over for the bonus point on 78 minutes to give us the final score of:
England 27-0 Ireland
Scorers
England Women
Tries: Pocock, Merchant, Taylor, Alphonsi Con: McLean (2) Pen: McLean
Ireland Women
Teams
England: Danielle Waterman (Worcester); Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), Rachael Burford (Richmond), Fiona Pocock (Richmond); Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Amy Turner (Richmond); Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), Amy Garnett (Saracens), Sophie Hemming (Bristol), Becky Essex (Richmond), Jo McGilchrist (Wasps), Heather Fisher (Worcester), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Catherine Spencer (Bristol)
Replacements: Emma Crocker (Richmond), Claire Purdy (Wasps), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), La Toya Mason (Wasps), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Charlotte Barras (Saracens)
Ireland: Niamh Briggs, Amy Davis, Jo O’Sullivan, Lynne Cantwell, Nora Stapleton, Helen Brosnan, Tania Rosser, Fiona Coghlan (C), Gillian Bourke, Louise Austin, Kate O’Loughlin, Marie-Louise Reilly, Orla Brennan, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville
Replacments: Nolan, Guest, Staunton, Ryan, Beamish, Houston, Kelly