England crushes Scotland in women’s Six Nations rugby opener

LONDON - Champions England got off to a flying start in their women's Six Nations title defence as they beat Scotland 52-10 in a dominant performance in a Pool A encounter on Saturday.

The postponed tournament is being played in a condensed format with two pools of three teams each, with the pool toppers playing each other in the final. In Pool B, France, who won three of the last seven championships, ran in eight tries against Wales in a 53-0 victory, a year after Les Bleues won their previous encounter 50-0.

It was a one-way affair in Vannes for Les Bleues, with winger Caroline Boujard scoring the three opening tries in the first 15 minutes and scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon kicking 13 points.

France, who were 31-0 up at halftime, next face Ireland. England went ahead in the eighth minute when their forwards completed a series of quick offloads before Marlie Packer went over. Leanne Riley got England's second with some fancy footwork to shrug off challenges before diving through the crowd.

Scotland, who failed to score a single point against England in the previous two editions, managed to tick the scoreboard over when Riley conceded a penalty for an offside infringement and Helen Nelson converted.

But hooker Lark Davies soon converted England's third try as Scotland tried desperately to stop their maul before that was topped by a bonus point try from Bryony Cleall, who was set up by her identical twin sister Poppy.

After England's show of power, it was Jess Breach's turn to display their speed on the wing and the 23-year-old managed to race past two tackles before side-stepping a third for their fifth try of the half.