ROAR OF THE ROSES

Nervy England see off Uganda in high-paced opener

ENGLAND began their World Cup campaign with a fast and furious victory against up-and-comers Uganda.

Their determination to throw down a marker in this tournament was evident from the start, with the Roses’ players harrying and hassling their counterparts all the way to goal.

Attack was a different story, though, with England’s eagerness to get out and score leading them into some unforced errors.

Notable examples were when goal-shooter Jo Harten and wing-attack Chelsea Pitman collided in one corner and a Helen Housby pass to Serena Guthrie sailed wide.

This was not a relaxed England. Far from it.

This was an England desperate to reply after witnessing their rivals, the defending champions Australia, crush Northern Ireland 88-24 earlier in the day.

Their fire and fury soon infiltrated the 5,000-strong crowd at the M&S Bank arena.

When Guthrie snatched a ball that keeper Geva Mentor had tipped beyond the reach of Uganda’s figurehead shooter, Peace Proscovia, it received one of the biggest cheers of the night when Harten tucked it away at the other end. Captain Guthrie was the only Rose to keep her cool in the opening minutes, an attitude she may have transmitted to her teammates at the first break because England’s starting seven were far more settled when they returned to court.

But their defensive efforts continued and the fact attacker

Housby stole the ball back twice was proof every England player was determined to do her duty.

England’s star shooter received an enormous cheer when she was substituted for Rachel Dunn in the third quarter. Fran Williams, the squad’s youngest member at 21, replaced Eboni Usorobrown in the second quarter. And Williams’ on-court confidence belies her youth. Her ready hands, when it came to tips and provocations, will provide coach Tracey Neville (left) with an interesting option should she mix up the combination of Mentor and Usorobrown at the back. Layla Guscoth was handed the wing defence bib over veteran Jade Clarke and her early turnover in the second half showed exactly why Uganda struggled to find a way through. It remains to be seen whether England’s hunger is exactly what the hosts needed to display or whether it was a sign of the pressure they find themselves under as they bid to repeat their Commonwealth Games success.

But their approach paid dividends more often than not, especially after Uganda were reduced to six players in the fourth quarter after centre Stella Oyella was sent off for persistent infringement of the rules.

And with constant defensive pressure and the running circle operated by the Harten and Housby combo, anyone who takes on England will have to do so at speed.