England (29) 62
Try: Feaunati, David, M Packer 2, Jones 2, Cokayne, Moloney-MacDonald, Breach, Muir Cons: Rowland 3, Harrison 3
Wales (12) 24
Try: Bevan, Jones, Lewis and Lockwood Cons: Bevan 2
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England ran in 10 tries as they continued their dominance of the Women’s Six Nations with a comfortable 62-24 victory over Wales in front of a record crowd at Ashton Gate.
The Red Roses completed a 36th consecutive event victory, clinching a fifth consecutive Triple Crown, in front of 26,247 fans in Bristol.
For Wales, this was their 12th defeat in 13 Tests, although two late tries at least meant they earned a much-celebrated bonus point.
Wales-born England captain Meg Jones scored twice in the first half, leaping to dive down the right flank and then crossing on the stroke of half-time after her pass freed Claudia Moloney-MacDonald on the left.
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Defenders Maddie Feaunati and Marlie Packer had already gone in for a try, either side of a score for winger Millie David just 13 minutes into her international debut.
The Red Roses did not have their way in the first 40 minutes, with Wales responding through Keira Bevan and a devastating Kelsey Jones.
But they overwhelmed their visitors in the second half, with Amy Cokayne, Moloney-MacDonald and Jess Breach crossing before Packer got her second of the afternoon.
Wales rallied late in the match and tries from captain Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood (either side of Maud Muir’s England tenth) gave their fans something to cheer about.
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England, seeking an eighth successive Six Nations title, will face Italy in Parma on May 9, with Wales taking on Ireland in Belfast on the same day.
Imperfect England gets the job done
This was not a classic England performance.
Loose passes, mishandling, nine penalties awarded and two of them led directly to Welsh tries. At times, they were guilty of simply overreacting.
But like all great teams, England – imperfectly – got the job done without ever losing control.
They could have scored three goals in the first 10 minutes, but they had to settle for one. Sadia Kabeya fumbled the ball from a few yards out and Packer lost a run to Bevan after charging a kick.
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Still, this was the fifth consecutive match in which England scored within 10 minutes. The bonus point was secured within 28 minutes and at half-time they were 17 points clear. Out of sight, despite Wales’ brave performance.
The hammer fell in the second half when they dominated Wales with mauls near the line and stretched them out on the flanks.
Five tries in each half, eight different players on the scoresheet and 10 or more tries in consecutive games.
Lessons will be learned from the performance (you suspect they will need to be cleaner and more disciplined against France, for example) and Kabeya’s first-half exit will stretch their resources further, but England’s machine continues to rumble.
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Wales heading in the right direction despite another defeat
An eighth consecutive defeat in the Women’s Six Nations (winning 62 points in the process) leaves Wales in fifth place, one point ahead of bottom-placed Italy.
How do you put a positive spin on that? Well, the overwhelmingly grim statistics haunting Wales don’t tell the full story.
Before the game, head coach Sean Lynn asked his players to show courage, intensity and resilience, and they delivered in spades.
After struggling to get out of their half in the opening 15 minutes, Wales regained momentum to finish the half with 50% possession, two tries on the board and England scratching their heads over how to neutralize their lineout.
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Early in the second half, Jaz Joyce made a try-saving tackle to deny Ellie Kildunne, and they limited the damage to just one try when they were down to 14 players after Kayleigh Powell was penalized for a deliberate hit.
The two late tries, which not only secured the extra point but also meant Wales recorded their highest score against England, were just the reward.
And you could see what it meant to the players. Bevan, who broke through the England defense in an individual moment of magic to secure field position for her first try, was mobbed not only by the other 14 players on the field but also by five substitutes in orange bibs. The extra point was received with hugs all around.
Yes, this was another tough defeat. Yes, there were tricky moments and individual errors, including multiple charged kicks, an offside restart and knocked down line-outs.
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But this is a side that is taking steps in the right direction.
lineups
England: Kildunne; David, Jones (captain), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Carson, Cokayne, Bern, Burton, Burns, Kabeya, M Packer, Feaunati.
Replacements: Powell, Clifford, Muir, Lutui, Short, Robinson, Harrison, Breach.
Welsh: Powell; Singleton, Keight, De Vera, J Joyce; George, Bevan; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Metcalfe, Lewis (captain), King.
Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, Evans, A Joyce, Lockwood, Bell, Richards.
match officials
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jess Ling (Australia) and Beatrice Smussi (Italy)
Television Match Official (TMO): Leo Colgan (Ireland)