England cruise to eight-try win over Scots in Six Nations
POPPY Cleall admits the Red Roses have more work to do on the training ground to adapt to new laws around the tackle and breakdown after England were reduced to 13 players in their Six Nations win over Scotland.
Despite watching the cards being dished out in men’s rugby over the course of the year – and having referee Sara Cox join their pre-tournament camp to discuss the new framework – Cleall and Lark Davies were sinbinned in the second half to allow Scotland to pile on some pressure at Doncaster’s Castle Park.
However a red card to Scotland’s replacement hooker Molly Wright after catching Vickii Cornborough on the head halted the momentum that Scotland had been building.
It was an error that left Wright heading back to the sidelines just two minutes after coming on and allowed England to regroup after a fine first half display.
For Cleall, the game’s standout player, there were positives and negatives attached to the bonus point win.
“We have been waiting a long time for the opening game of the Six Nations so to get out there was great,” Cleall said. “I think some of the things out there Midds (head coach Simon Middleton) won’t be too happy with and we are going to get shouted at for going down to 13 players – that isn’t ideal in an international Test match.
“We have been watching the men’s games with all the new laws and adaptations. We are just a little bit behind on that and need to catch up and make it easier on the referee.
“We can play better and I think that is what we will take away from the game. We can do better.”
An outstretched Marlie Packer scored the first try of the tournament by the posts nine minutes in after a power surge by sisters Poppy and Bryony Cleall, as the Red Roses began to click through their gears.
Scotland had shown grit to hold up hooker Lark Davies short of the line from a rolling maul in the first real attack, but Leanne Riley was soon over for England’s second from the base of a ruck after a strong carry by Abbie Ward to the fivemetre line.
Davies, so dangerous from the set-piece for Loughborough Lightning, wasn’t to be stopped twice as she was driven over by the pack and joined in the action moments later by Bryony Cleall for the bonus point.
Scotland centre Lisa Thomson was sin-binned for a rising team penalty count and Jess Breach crossed for superb solo try just before the break.
Trailing 33-3, skipper Rachel Malcolm was forced of with injury and Helena Rowland scored England’s sixth try three minutes after the restart.
But from that moment, and with Thomson back from the bin, Scotland pressed on into England territory.
Pressure told as England found themselves down to 13 players once Poppy Cleall had been show yellow for handling in the ruck and Davies was binned for striking with the shoulder as she attempted to tackle Siobhan Cattigan.
Scotland took full advantage with Hannah Smith scoring in the corner just before the hour mark.
The margin was 30 points but England’s patch of indiscipline had ceded momentum to the Scots.
However that momentum faded with Wright’s wayward tackle on Cornborough meeting all criteria for a red card, opening the door for Cleall and a penalty try late on to seal the win for England who face Italy next weekend in Padova.