By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-09-29 22:35:34 | Updated at 2024-09-30 05:23:11
6 hours ago
USA 21 England 61
It took a late surge for England to overwhelm a stubborn USA side and open their WXV 1 title defence with a 61-21 victory in Vancouver.
John Mitchell’s charges eventually piled up nine tries, with exquisite kicking from fly-half Zoe Harrison, who landed eight conversions, helping to widen the gap.
However, thanks to an eye-catching double from Alev Kelter and Kate Zackary’s close-range finish, USA had been in touch at just 33-21 behind as the game reached the last quarter.
Four tries in the last 12 minutes put gloss on an England display that was occasionally scrappy, as Mitchell admitted afterwards.
“We probably let ourselves down with our basics early in the game and during the middle, but there was a lot of satisfaction in the way we finished,” said the Red Roses head coach.
“[We wanted to] continue to build pressure and not let it off through poor basics, just to take the handbrake off and attack it. That’s where our mind-set should be, and we demonstrated that with some good examples towards the end.”
On a run of 17 consecutive wins, England were aiming to build depth with the introduction of two debutants, resourceful centre Phoebe Murray and wing Bo Westcombe-Evans, in the starting backline.
Despite frenetic moments and the occasional fumble, as well as an all-action effort from USA back-rower Rachel Johnson, England went 14-0 ahead. A clever line-out move released Lark Atkin-Davies before Ellie Kildunne scorched 70 metres to reward some slick passing directly from the restart that followed.
Kelter chipped and chased to pull one back, but Georgia Brock and stand-in skipper Alex Matthews registered tries to make it 28-7 at half-time. Kelter’s second, sparked by the carrying of Johnson and Hope Rogers, would give USA the first points of the second period and sum up their defiance.
Murray impressed and Westcombe-Evans marked her senior international bow by capping a slick first-phase move, though Zackary might have caused nerves to flutter among the England side. As it was, the depth of the world’s number-one ranked team shone through.
Bolstered by replacements, they obliterated USA’s scrum and struck upon some fluent attack. Morwenna Talling shunted across the try-line before Jess Breach swept off her wing and through a weary defence.
Kildunne completed her brace and Ella Wyrwas, a scrum-half moonlighting on the wing, nabbed try number nine with an interception. New Zealand are next up for the Red Roses, who will hope to use the impetus of their fast finish.
