England Women got off to the perfect start in Tonneins to triumph 24-4 in their international against France Women this evening (Wednesday June 17).
The first of a two-match series could not have gone any better for Chris Chapman’s side, who outperformed a resilient French team looking for victory on home soil.
Tara Jones got the first try for England as she opened the scoring on the 14th minute of the game and was closely followed by Jodie Cunningham after Andrea Dobson broke the line to find Cunningham in support to score the second try on 17 minutes.
French winger Blandine Britis scored her side’s only try of the game on the stroke of half-time to make it 10 – 4.
The second half got off to a quick start and England carried on from where they left off – slick passing from Jenny Welsby, Sarah Fletcher and Amy Hardcastle sent Jones in for her second try four minutes into the half.
Cunningham also scored a brace after she pounced on a kick from Welsby to put England 14 points clear of the opposition on the 55 minute mark.
Charlotte Booth scored the final try of the game after she received the ball on the right wing and stepped inside two oncoming defenders to go over the line. Carrie Roberts converted on the final whistle.
England Women now head into the final match of this international series on Saturday (June 20) in Biganos (6.30pm).
England Women’s team:
Jodie Cunningham (Thatto Heath)
Charlotte Booth (Bradford Thunderbirds)
Tara Jones (Thatto Heath)
Sarah Dunn (Stanningley)
Kayleigh Bulman (Featherstone Rovers)
Danielle Bose (Bradford Thunderbirds)
Jenny Welsby (Thatto Heath)
Andrea Dobson © (Featherstone Rovers)
Lois Forsell (Bradford Thunderbirds)
Sarah Fletcher (Normington)
Carrie Roberts (Armed Forces)
Jessica Courtman (Bradford Thunderbirds)
Emily Rudge (Featherstone Rovers)
Interchange
Danielle Bound (Thatto Heath)
Danika Priim (Stanningley)
Faye Gaskin (Thatto Heath)
Amy Hardcastle (Bradford Thunderbirds)
France Women’s team:
Elisa Ciria
Fatou Sylla
Aude Goubairate
Melanie Jean
Blandine Britis
Laurianne Guigue
Alice Varela ©
Coralie Maurouard
Virginie Calvo
Sandrine Lloria
Anais Mikalef
Gaelle Alvernhe
Sonia Zaghdoudi
Interchange
Gaelle Delas
Cyndia Mansard
Vanessa Lacouture
Anne Diemart
England Women 24 (T: Jones 2, Cunningham 2, Booth; G: Courtman, Roberts)
France Women 4 (T: Britis)