Bristol Ladies quartet help Red Roses to eight-try victory over Canada

Wednesday, November 22nd 2017

Lagi Tuima made her international bow, while Amber Reed, Izzy Noel-Smith and Caity Mattinson all featured, as the Red Roses ran in eight tries to beat Canada 49-12 in the second Old Mutual Wealth Series Test match at Twickenham Stoop.

Reed, who started at inside centre, kicked two conversions and a penalty for Simon Middleton’s side, who stormed to victory courtesy of tries from Rachael Burford (2), Ellie Kildunne (2), Daniell Waterman, Hannah Botterman and Jo Brown.

On a night where captain – and former Bristol Ladies star - Sarah Hunter led the team out on her 100th international appearance, 19-year-old Tuima came on as a second half substitute for her England debut, alongside club teammates, Noel-Smith and Mattinson.

England were ahead after three minutes when Heather Kerr crossed from a driving maul for her first ever international try, while Rachael Burford dotted down Katy Daley-Mclean's grubber and Ellie Kildunne went over with an excellent individual score for a 20-0 half-time lead.

Danielle Waterman's classy footwork got the scoring going in the second half, Burford and Kildunne added their second tries, with Hannah Botterman and Jo Brown also going over for their first tries for England.

Canada's hard work was rewarded late on when Janna Slevinsky went over when they finally broke down a well-drilled England defence while Mckinley Hunt also crossed for Canada in the last action of the match.

Lagi Tuima (middle) after making her Red Roses debut against Canada on Tuesday night (@EnglandRugby).

The two teams will meet again on Saturday in the final game of the series at Twickenham Stadium after the men's match against Samoa.

"We did some great things and some not great things, but we tried,” said head coach, Simon Middleton.

“We wanted to look at some different stuff over the course of this series and we showed a lot of innovation in our play I thought.

"We were a little bit scratchy at times and probably a little disappointed with the finish to the game but for 50 or 60 minutes I thought we were very good."

Teams

England Women: Ellie Kildunne, Danielle Waterman, Rachael Burford, Amber Reed, Charlotte Clapp, Katy Daley- Mclean, Leanne Riley; Rochelle Clark, Amy Cokayne, Heather Kerr, Catherine O’Donnell, Tamara Taylor, Jo Brown, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (c).

Replacements: Lark Davies, Vickii Cornborough, Hannah Botterman, Abbie Scott, Izzy Noel-Smith, Caity Mattinson, Zoe Harrison, Lagi Tuima.

Canada: Brianna Miller, Paige Farries, Dria Bennett, Nadia Popov, Emmanuela Jada, Anais Holly, Jess Neilson; Brittany Kassil, Emily Tuttosi, Olivia De Merchant, Tyson Beukeboom, Laura Russell (c), Pamphinette Buisa, Sara Svoboda, Cindy Nelles.

Replacements: Alexandria Ellis, Veronica Harrigan, McKinley Hunt, Emma Taylor, Janna Slevinsky, Justine Pelletier, Emilie Nichol, Sam Alli.

England's 2017 Old Mutual Wealth Series

Friday 17 November - England Women 79-5 Canada @ Allianz Park

Tuesday 21 November - England Women 49-12 Canada @ Twickenham Stoop

Saturday 25 November - England Women v Canada @ Twickenham Stadium (KO 17:40, live Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Mix)