England Women 40-14 Barbarians Women: Red Roses claim dominant win in history-maker
Hooker Lark Davies (hat-trick), loosehead Hannah Botterman, back-row Poppy Cleall, wing Kelly Smith scored tries as England's Red Roses secured dominant win vs a Barbarians Women side at Twickenham in historic first meeting between sides; Emily Wood, Fiao'o Fa'amausili scored for Baa-Baas
By Michael Cantillon at Twickenham
Last Updated: 02/06/19 8:42pm
England Women swept aside the Barbarians with a six-try 40-14 victory at Twickenham on Sunday, in a history-making first ever meeting between the two sides.
Simon Middleton's charges scored first-half tries through Lark Davies (two), Hannah Botterman and Poppy Cleall in a dominant opening 40 minutes, going in 28-0 ahead at the break.
The Barbarians responded with second-half tries from England's Emily Wood and New Zealand's Fiao'o Fa'amausili, but Davies then completed her hat-trick for the hosts, while Kelly Smith added a sixth score.
An England men's XV take on a Barbarians side coached by Bristol's Pat Lam at Twickenham later on Sunday in a 3.30pm kick off, live on Sky Sports Action.
The first try of the day arrived after just four minutes, when hooker Davies was on hand to finish a powerful rolling maul which rapidly advanced towards the Barbarians try-line.
Loosehead prop Botterman notched England's second score in the 18th minute, diving under the posts before grounding after a series of close-range drives by the Red Roses.
Scrum-half Leanne Riley lost the ball forward over the try-line soon after, but England did register a third first-half try through blindside flanker Cleall - again under the posts - when lock Zoe Aldcroft picked from a ruck, went and offloaded smartly inside.
Three minutes from the end of the half, Davies scored her second and England's fourth try when she sniped over from close range after tighthead prop Sarah Bern had set the platform with a powerful carry off a rolling maul.
The Red Roses thought they had made a perfect start to the second half with a try four minutes in, but wing Smith's effort was ruled out on a TMO review for a forward pass from inside-centre Amber Reed.
As it was, the Baa-Baas would score the first try of the second period via outside-centre Wood when she combined nicely with Irish centre partner Sene Naoupu to finish by the posts.
The Barbarians doubled their tally when Kiwi hooker Fa'amausili ran a super line before powering through, as the invitational side were rewarded for their stronger second-half showing.
England responded instantly, however, with a rolling maul again the genesis of their attack - hooker Davies completing her hat-trick with the grounding.
A wonderful long right-hand pass from outside-centre Lagi Tuima with England on the attack again found wing Smith in space, with the latter racing in to finish in the left corner - a score which proved the last of the match.
England Women next turn their attentions to July's Rugby Super Series campaign in the USA, live on Sky Sports with all four round-robin fixtures to be screened across three channels.
Middleton's side will seek to add to their Grand Slam success during this year's Women's Six Nations when they pit themselves against the world's top-ranked sides in San Diego.
The Red Roses face New Zealand, Canada, USA and France in the round-robin tournament, with the games against Canada and France to be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.