England Women recorded their second successive win in the Six Nations on Saturday against Italy and once again kept their rivals to nil points with a 41-0 victory in Parma.
The Red Roses ran in an impressive seven tries with captain Catherine Spencer leading by example grabbing a brace of tries. There were also touch downs for Michaela Staniford, Fiona Pocock, Rochelle Clark, Heather Fisher and Maggie Alphonsi.
England Assistant Coach Graham Smith said: "The effort the players put in today was as ever excellent. Italy really made us work hard for this win, and for us this is certainly the most difficult year for us to try and win the Six Nations so we are really pleased with the result.
"At times our execution wasn't always there and we needed to pay more attention to detail - we were certainly not as fluid as we were against Wales - but overall our scrummaging worked really well and all four of our wings made a massive contribution to the victory."
England made an immediate impression on the game and scored after just three minutes with Michaela Staniford, starting her first game for England in a year, touching down. A turn over at the line out saw the forwards get their chance to drive and over power the Italians, with the ball then popped out down the line to Staniford on the right wing. Alice Richardson missed the conversion.
Five minutes later and England were 12-0 up with wing Pocock this time taking the points. After the ball came off the top of a line-out it went through the slick hands of the backs and out to Pocock who touched down with ease. This time Richardson added the conversion.
Prop Rochelle Clark then secured her second try in two games taking the ball from the back of a ruck to drive over before Bristol No. 8 Spencer claimed her first try with a classic Spencer pick-up from the back of a scrum and charge over, handing England a 22-0 lead at the break.
England made a raft of changes during half time giving wingers Amber Penrith and Fran Matthews, who had been called up from the England A set-up, their chance. Alphonsi and hooker Samantha Reeve also took to the field, but it was Worcester's Heather Fisher who took the next try.
The flanker, who scored her first try ever for England seven days ago against Wales, showed her turn of speed after a line-out, and then a good England attack in midfield, to outflank Italy's defence and score. Richardson added the conversion taking England into a 29-0 lead.
England had to wait until the 70th minute for their next score which saw a good catch and drive from a line-out hand Alphonsi the chance to pick up from the back of the ruck and score. This time Katy McLean added the conversion.
The final try came courtesy of skipper Spencer who recreated her first half effort with another pick and charge from a scrum, handing England the 41-0 victory and a 100 percent clean sheet in the tournament so far.
England now have a two week break until they are back in Six Nations action against Ireland at Esher RFC on February 28th.
Final Score England women 41 (22) Italy Women 0 (0)
Scorers
England Women
Tries: Staniford, Pocock, Clark, Spencer (2), Fisher, Alphonsi,
Conversions: Richardson (2), McLean
Penalties:
Italy Women
-
Teams
England
15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Jane Leonard (Lichfield), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol), Replacements: 16 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 18 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 19 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 20 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 21 Francesca Matthews (Richmond), 22 Amber Penrith (Bristol).
Substitutions: Alphonsi for Leonard, Penrith for Staniford, Matthews for Pocock, Reeve for Garnett (all HT), McLean for Burford, Hemming for Purdy (both 65), McGilchrist for Essex (70)
Italy
15 FURLAN MANUELA, 14 BARATTIN SARA, 13 CIOFFI MARIA GRAZIA, 12 ZANGIROLAMI PAOLA (C), 11 VERONESE MARIA DILETTA, 10 SCHIAVON VERONICA, 9 TONDINELLI MICHELA, 1 CUCCHIELLA ELISA, 2 PERON SILVIA, 3 GAI LUCIA, 4 PETTINELLI SARA, 5 GINI DANIELA, 6 CAMPANELLA GIULIANA, 8 GAUDINO SILVIA, 7 ESTE MICHELA,
Replacements: 16 DENZA M.BEATRICE, 17 TREVISAN ALICE, 18 MOLIC CRISTINA, 19 ZUBLENA CECILIA, 20 SCHIAVON VALENTINA, 21 PIZZATI SILVIA, 22 ROCHAS ELISA
England's Six Nations Fixtures and Results:
England v Wales, Feb 6th, Esher RFC, KO 7pm WON 31-0
Italy v England, Feb 13th, Noceto, KO 230pm WON 41-0
England v Ireland, Feb 28th, Esher RFC, KO 3pm
Scotland v England, March 13th, Meggatland, KO 130pm
France v England, March 19th, Rennes Stade Vellodrome, KO 8pm
