6N Women: England, Wales sitting pretty

Wales had a great win over the strong French side – a great win, close as it was. That was in Wales. In England England beat the titleholders from last yeqar. Tow defeats rule Ireland out of any contention. France have a remote hope bhut it is really England and Wles that are real contenders for championship, Grand Slam and Triple Corwn.

They meet at The Stoop omn 12 March 2016. It could be a cracking game.

At the other end of the spectrum, Scotland look in line for the wooden spoon,

Round 3 Results

England vs Ireland, 13-9

Walkes vs France, 10-8

Italy vs Scotland, 22-7

Round 1 Results

Ireland vs Wales, 21-3.

England vs Scotland, 32-0

France vs Italy, 39-0

Round 2 Results

France vs Ireland, 18-6

England vs Italy, 33-24

Wales vs Scotland, 23-10

England vs Ireland at Twickenham. England won 13-9

It was, of course,, a great occasion – playing at Twickenham just after the men had played. The icy weather did not matter to the women engaged in this close encounter which England deserved to win if only because they were the only side to score tries, one in each half.

It was tough all the way, and England led only 8-6 at the break.

Another Brigs penalty gave Ireland the lead at 9-8. Then England attacked in phases and Abbie Scott darted over for the winning try with 15 minutes to go.

Scorers

For England:

Tries: Emma Croker, Abbie Scott

Pen: Amber Reed

For Ireland:

Pens: Niamh Briggs 3

Teams

England: 15 Katie Mason, 14 Ruth Laybourn, 13 Lauren Cattell, 12 Ceri Large, 11 Lotte Clapp, 10 Amber Reed, 9 La Toya Mason, 8 Sarah Hunter, 7 Izzy Noel-Smith, 6 Harriet Millar-Mills, 5 Emily Braund, 4 Abbie Scott, 3 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Emma Croker, 1 Rochelle Clark

Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Heather Kerr, 18 Bee Dawson, 19 Tamara Taylor, 20 Poppy Leitch, 21 Bianca Blackburn, 22 Ruth Laybourn, 23 Leanne Riley

Ireland: 15 Niamh Briggs (captain), 14 Elise O'Byrne White, 13 Aine Donnelly, 12 Sene Naoupu, 11 Mairead Coyne, 10 Nora Stapleton, 9 Larissa Muldoon, 8  Paula Fitzpatrick, 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Ciara Griffin, 5 Sophie Spence, 4 Marie Louise Reilly, 3 Ailis Egan, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 1 Ruth O'Reilly.

Replacements: 16 Zoe Grattage, 17 Fiona Hayes, 18 Fiona Reidy, 19 Ciara Cooney, 20 Heather O'Brien, 21 Mary Healy, 22 Nikki Caughey, 23 Jackie Shiels

Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)

Italy vs Scotland at Stadio Bonori dell'Arcoveggio in Bologna. Italy won 22-7

Italy were well in charge of this battle between two sides who were looking for a first win in this year's competition. At half-time Italy led 15-0 and then 22-0 four minutes into the second half. Then only did Scotland score and for the last 28 minutes there was no scoring at all.

That both Italian tries in the first half were scored by props, Melissa Bettoni and Elisa Cucchiella, gives some idea of Italian dominance up front.

That last try was a gem, for Lisa Thomson caught the ball just inside her own half and raced away for a surprise score.

Italy scored two tries in the first half before Veronica Schaivon goaled a penalty when scrumhalf Jennifer Maxwell of Scotland was sin-binned.

Scorers

For Italy:

Tries: Melissa Bettoni, Elisa Cucchiella, Manuella Furlan

Cons: Veronica Schiavon 2

Pen: Veronica Schiavon

For Scotland:

Try: Lisa Thomson

Con: Lana Skeldon

Teams

Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan, 14 Maria Magatti , 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Sofia Stefan, 10 Veronica Schiavon, 9 Sara Barattin (captain), 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 6 Michela Este, 5 Alice Trevisan, 4 Elisa Pillotti, 3 Melissa Bettoni, 2 Lucia Cammarano, 1 Elisa Cucchiella

Replacements: 16 Lucia Gai, 17 Gaia Giacomolli, 18 Diletta Nicoletti, 19 Valentina Ruzza, 20 Ilaria Arrigheti, 21 Silvia Folli (s), 22 Paola Zangirolami, 23 Veronica Madia

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Megan Gaffney, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Rhona Lloyd,  10 Lisa Martin (captain), 9 Jennifer Maxwell,  8 Jade Konkel, 7 Karen Dunbar, 6 Jemma Forsyth, 5 Deborah McCormack, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Lindsey Smith, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Tracy Balmer

Replacements: 16 Sarah Quick, 17 Debbie Falconer, 18 Heather Lockhart, 19 Fiona Sim, 20 Anna Stodter, 21 Sarah Law, 22 Claire Bain, 23 Abigail Evans

Referee: Marie Lematte (France)

Assistant referees:  Maria Beatrice (Italy), Clara Munarini (Italy)

Assessor: Kat Todd (USA)

Wales vs France at The Gnoll in Neath. Wales won 10-8.

This was a victory for unyielding defence.

At half-time the score was just 5-5. Wales score first when fullback Dyddgu Hywel forced her way over in the corner, but the French pack were always on top and Safi N’Diaye levelled the scores with a great French effort from a five-metre scrum.

A penalty by flyhalf early in the second half by flyhalf Audrey Abadie put France ahead early in the second half. Then Wales went on a rare incursion  into French territory, started by a turnover when substitute prop Amy Evans dislodged the ball with a powerful tackle and wing Bethan Dainton raced  downfield. Wales won quick ball and went the width of the field till prop Megan York was over in the corner after a prop-to-pro try which won the match for Wales as they defended mightily for the last 22 minutes.

It was France's first away match in this Six Nations and their first defeat at the hands of Wales since 2008.

Scorers

For Wales:

Tries: Dyddgu Hywel, Megan York

For France:

Try: Safi N’Diaye

Pen: Audrey Abadie

Teams

Wales: 15 Dyddgu Hywel, 14 Bethan Dainton, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Robyn Wilkins, 11 Elen Evans, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Sioned Harries, 7 Sian Williams, 6 Rachel Taylor (captain), 5 Rebecca Rowe, 4 Shona Powell-Hughes, 3 Megan York, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Catrin Edwards.

Replacements: 16 Amy Price, 17 Cerys Hale, 18 Amy Evans, 19 Siwan Lillicrap, 20 Alisha Butchers, 21 Jenny Hawkins, 22 Kerin Lake, 23 Adi Taviner

France: 15 Julie Billes, 14 Caroline Boujard, 13 Lucille Godiveau, 12 Elodie Poublan, 11 Laura Delas, 10 Audrey Abadie, 9 Yanna Rivoalen, 8 Safi N’Diaye, 7 Pauline Rayssac, 6 Laetitia Grand, 5 Audrey Forlani, 4 Celine Ferer, 3 Julie Duval, 2 Gaëlle Mignot (captain), 1 Lise Arricastre

Replacements: 16 Agathe Sochat, 17 Arkya Ait lahbib, 18 Romane Menager, 19 Julie (Annery, 20 Laure Sansus, 21 Camille Imart, 22 Bertrand, 23 Patricia Carricaburu

Referee: Rose LaBrèche (Canada)