Women’s rugby Bern bags two tries as Red Roses win again
BRISTOL’S Sarah Bern scored twice during a player-ofthe-match performance as England made it three wins from three in their Autumn Series campaign thanks to a 51-12 win over Canada at the Twickenham Stoop.
Simon Middleton’s charges, who are now unbeaten in 17 matches, set a blistering early pace, as their forwards - including Poppy Cleall and Bristol’s Abbie Ward, both of whom were earning their 50th cap - pounded the Canadian defence with heavy carries off scrum-half Claudia MacDonald.
The pressure paid off after just four minutes. Zoe Harrison, with a quick tap penalty, fed Helena Rowambition land, who fizzed a 10-metre pass to Heather Cowell. The wing sprinted into the corner for a try on her Test debut.
The Maple Leafs took the lead on the 22-minute mark, as wing Paige Farries intercepted a wayward Harrison pass to canter in unopposed. Fly-half Brianna Miller added the extras to make it 7-5.
It was shortlived though, as on the Red Roses’ next surge towards the Canadian line, Bristol powerhouse prop Sarah Bern bounced off two defenders to claim England’s second try. Harrison followed up her successful conversion with a 30-metre penalty minutes later.
As half-time approached, a moment of magic saw Canada close the gap, thanks to a superb solo score from wing Sabrina Poulin, who hit an arcing run off an attacking scrum to zip over into the corner. But Cowell was on hand in the final play of the first half to cross for her second score, the try identical to her first, giving England a 20-12 lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Bern hit a line and broke through to score her second, and Harrison’s extras extended the Red Roses lead to 15 points.
In what was their first match outside of North America since 2018, Canada continued to cause problems through their physicality and to attack from anywhere.
But the Red Roses began to take control of the Test, and as the hourmark approached, Claudia MacDonald darted off the back of a rolling maul, splitting the Canadian midfield to dot down under the sticks, giving Harrison the easiest of conversions.
Another penalty from the boot of Harrison kept the scoreboard ticking over, and an Alex Matthews try 10 minutes from the end, was followed by another MacDonald score - one converted by Rowland, the other by Harrison - made it 51-12 and wrapped up the win.
» This report first appeared on www.bristolbearsrugby.com.