England sweep aside Wales to continue dominant run

ByElizabeth Botcherby

BBC Sport journalist, Atat Ashton Gate

Women's Six Nations

England (29) 62

Tries: Feaunati, David, M Packer 2, Jones 2, Cokayne, Moloney-MacDonald, Breach, Muir Cons: Rowland 3, Harrison 3

Wales (12) 24

Tries: Bevan, Jones, Lewis, Lockwood Cons: Bevan 2

England ran in 10 tries as they continued their dominance of the Women's Six Nations with a comfortable 62-24 victory over Wales in front of a record crowd at Ashton Gate.

The Red Roses completed a record-extending 36th consecutive Test win, securing a fifth Triple Crown in a row, in front of 26,247 fans in Bristol.

For Wales, this was a 12th defeat in 13 Tests, though two late tries did at least mean they secured a much-celebrated bonus point.

Wales-born England captain Meg Jones scored twice in the first half - dancing through to splash over on the right flank then crossing on the stroke of half-time after her pass had freed Claudia Moloney-MacDonald down the left.

Back rows Maddie Feaunati and Marlie Packer had already plunged over for tries - either side of a score for winger Millie David just 13 minutes into her international debut.

The Red Roses did not have things all their own way in the opening 40 minutes, with Wales hitting back through Keira Bevan and a bulldozing Kelsey Jones.

But they overwhelmed their visitors in the second half, with Amy Cokayne, Moloney-MacDonald and Jess Breach crossing over before Packer bagged her second of the afternoon.

Wales rallied late in the game and tries from captain Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood - either side of England's 10th from Maud Muir - gave their fans something to cheer.

England, who are searching for a record eighth consecutive Six Nations title, next face Italy in Parma on 9 May, with Wales facing Ieland in Belfast later that day.

This was not a vintage England performance.

Loose passes, handling errors, nine penalties conceded with two directly leading to Wales tries. At times, they were guilty of simply over-playing.

But like all great teams, England - imperfectly - got the job done without ever losing control.

They could have scored three times in the opening 10 minutes but had to settle for one. Sadia Kabeya spilled the ball from a few metres out and Packer lost a foot race with Bevan after charging down a kick.

Still, this was the fifth consecutive match in which England have scored inside 10 minutes. The bonus point was secured inside 28, and they were 17 points clear by half-time. Out of sight, despite Wales' gutsy performance.

The hammer went down in the second half as they overpowered Wales in mauls close to the line, and stretched them on the wings.

Five tries in either half, eight different players on the scoresheet, and 10 or more tries in back-to-back matches.

Lessons will be learned from the performance - you suspect they will need to be cleaner and better disciplined against France, for one - and Kabeya's first-half exit will further stretch their resources, but the England machine rumbles on.

An eighth successive Women's Six Nations defeat - shipping 62 points in the process - leaves Wales in fifth, one point clear of bottom side Italy.

How do you put a positive spin on that? Well, the overwhelmingly grim statistics haunting Wales do not tell the full story.

Before the game, head coach Sean Lynn called on his players to show grit, intensity, and resilience - and they delivered that in spades.

After struggling to get out of their half in the opening 15 minutes, Wales wrestled back momentum to finish the half with 50% possession, two tries on the board, and England scratching their heads as to how to neutralise their line-out.

Early in the second half, Jaz Joyce pulled off a try-saving tackle to deny Ellie Kildunne, and they limited the damage to just one try when down to 14 players after Kayleigh Powell was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

The two late tries, which not only secured the bonus point but also meant Wales registered their highest score against England, were just reward.

And you could see what it meant to the players. Bevan, who burst through England's defence in an individual moment of magic to secure the field position for her opening try, was mobbed by not only the other 14 players on the field but also five orange-bibbed substitutes. The bonus point was greeted with hugs all round.

Yes, this was another heavy defeat. Yes, there were messy moments and individual errors, including multiple charged-down kicks, a restart going out of play, and overthrown line-outs.

But this is a side taking strides in the right direction.

England: Kildunne; David, Jones (capt), Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Carson, Cokayne, Bern, Burton, Burns, Kabeya, M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Powell, Clifford, Muir, Lutui, Short, Robinson, Harrison, Breach.

Wales: Powell; Singleton, Keight, De Vera, J Joyce; George, Bevan; Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Metcalfe, Lewis (capt), King.

Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, Evans, A Joyce, Lockwood, Bell, Richards.

Referee: Ella Goldsmith (Australia)

Assistant referees: Jess Ling (Australia), and Beatrice Smussi (Italy)

Television Match Official (TMO): Leo Colgan (Ireland)