England 38-5 Italy: Pink Roses off to profitable Girls’s Six Nations begin regardless of poor second half in York

Mia Venner, Emily Scarratt, Claudia MacDonald, Amy Cokayne every rating first-half tries – along with penalty strive – as England charged out to 33-5; Second half noticed Italy dominate, nonetheless, and unfortunate to not add variety of scores; Emma Sing scored England’s solely factors in 79th minute

England’s Pink Roses obtained off to a profitable Girls’s Six Nations begin at residence to Italy of their quest for historical past, however a poor second-half displaying will trigger head coach John Mitchell a lot frustration. 

In an eventual 38-5 success, the Pink Roses scored 5 tries within the opening half by wing Mia Venner, centre Emily Scarratt, wing Claudia MacDonald and hooker Amy Cokayne, whereas they had been additionally awarded a penalty strive with Italy hooker Laura Gurioli dominated to have modified her bind in a maul.

Italy scored a first-half strive by No 8 Francesca Sgorbini and had been over once more early within the second interval by Sgorbini as soon as extra, just for a TMO assessment – three-and-a-half minutes after the rating and after even the conversion had been taken – to harshly rule out the strive for obvious lineout obstruction a number of phases earlier.

Full-back Emma Sing scored England’s solely strive of the second half – coming with only a minute to play – and likewise kicked properly for England off the tee to register three conversions, because the Pink Roses march on in in search of a historic fourth Grand Slam in succession.

England made an ominously dominant begin to the competition as Italy struggled to take care of possession, with spectacular wing Venner going over for the opening strive within the fourth minute down the left, having made the preliminary break herself down the precise.

England wing Mia Venner scored the opening strive of the competition in simply the fourth minute

Solely three minutes later, England’s lead was 14-0 as skilled centre Scarratt dived over from shut vary. A scrum had roared ahead for a penalty benefit in midfield, with the hosts deadly from there: Venner once more launched down the precise, pinning her ears again for the nook and solely stopped by a despairing tap-tackle. The Pink Roses saved the tempo of the assault going, although, for Scarratt to the touch down.

Sing transformed fantastically once more, and although some plucky Italy defence saved England out for a interval thereafter, the guests had been then lowered to 14 gamers for 10 minutes as Gurioli was picked out by the TMO for altering her bind and denying lock Rosie Galligan from scoring after a maul drive within the twenty second minute.

Skilled centre Emily Scarratt scored a attempt to put England 14-0 up within the seventh minute

It took England till close to the tip of that sin-bin interval to make their numerical benefit rely, however make it rely they did when centre Holly Aitchison produced a beautiful try-assist by way of a cross-field kick go for MacDonald to say and rating untouched.

Italy responded down the opposite finish by Sgorbini after a textbook maul drive strive, however England would have the ultimate say of the half by Cokayne when Italy disastrously overthrew a lineout 5 metres from their very own try-line.

Amy Cokayne scored England’s fifth strive of the primary half, amassing an overthrown lineout to cost over

Into the second half, Italy proved completely dominant and really unfortunate to not be rewarded with a second Sgorbini strive after a wealth of strain – the TMO intervention a weird one contemplating there was removed from a transparent and apparent offence.

Regardless of that setback, Italy proved those way more on high for the rest, however deserved additional scores alluded them as England’s defence nearly held agency.

Into the very remaining phases, substitute England flanker Sadia Kabeya had a strive dominated out on account of a ahead go, with Sing then lastly including additional factors within the 79th minute in a transfer which had Scarratt and impactful prop Sarah Bern to the fore.

Full-back Emma Sing kicked strongly for 3 conversions, and scored England’s solely strive of the second half with a minute to play

What’s subsequent?

England’s Pink Roses subsequent journey to face Wales on the Principality Stadium for spherical two on Saturday March 29 (4.45pm kick-off).

Italy subsequent host Eire for his or her round-two conflict on the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma on Sunday March 30 (3pm kick-off).

British & Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

Watch the Lions tour of Australia reside on Sky Sports activities in 2025

Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Assessments towards the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely reside.