Saturday 16 April 1994

World cup: England v Scotland

Alan Lorimer

Scotland 0, England 26

IT MAY not have been Murrayfield but a crowd of 5,000 at Meggetland last night produced the equivalent atmosphere for the first women's rugby match between Scotland and England.

England's greater experience during this world championship match was particularly evident in their forward play, which produced quality second-phase possession, in contrast to the Scots, who struggled to win ball at the breakdown points.

Helen Harding, of England, was impressive at scrum half, her pass of either hand being both quick and accurate, and at stand-off, Deidre Mills kicked with exemplary skill. She scored three penalties and a conversion from seven attempts.

England's centres were more alert to opportunities and it was a classic break by Giselle Pragnelle that produced a try for Paula George, the full back. England's second try was more opportunistic, Claire Vyvyan intercepting an intended long pass. The lively Harding claimed England's third try, touching down after Jenny Chambers, the No8, had broken off the scrum.

The Scots never looked like scoring. They did, however, tackle with commitment in their midfield.England, the winners of pool B, will play Canada in a quarter-final at Galashiels tomorrow and Scotland will play Wales at Melrose.

United States, the defending champions, will play Ireland after an overwhelming 121-0 defeat of Japan. Amy Westerman scored five tries and three conversions in a spree of 13 tries and eight goals. France will play Japan in the other quarter-final.

SCOTLAND: M Cave (Saracens); L Burns (Aberdeen University), P Paterson (Richmond), K Littlejohn (Edinburgh Academicals), D Francis (Richmond); A McGrandles (Richmond), S Williamson (Edinburgh Academicals); D Lochhead (Dundee High School FP), M Ferguson (Edinburgh University), D Aitken (West of Scotland), I Wilson (Alton), L Cockburn (Edinburgh Academicals), M McHardy (Edinburgh Academicals), J Sheerin (Heriot-Watt University), D Barnett (Wasps).

ENGLAND: P George (Wasps); C Stennett (Wasps), C Vyvyan (Wasps), G Pragnelle (Wasps), V Blackett (Clifton); D Mills (Richmond), H Harding (Wasps); C Bronks (Richmond), S Dorrington (Richmond), E Scourfield (Leeds), K Jenn (Richmond), K Henderson (Novacastrians), H Stirrup (Wasps), G Shore (Wasps), J Chambers (Richmond).

Referee: J Fleming (Boroughmuir).

RESULTS: Pool A (at Melrose): United States 121 Japan 0. Pool B (at Boroughmuir): Scotland 0, England 26. Pool C (at West of Scotland): France 34 Ireland 0. Pool D (at Edinburgh Acads): Canada 28 Kazakhstan 0.

QUARTER-FINAL QUALIFIERS (tomorrow): United States, Japan, England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Wales, Canada.

Copyright (C) The Times, 1994

Source Citation
"England beat Scotland to book place in last eight; Rugby Union." Times [London, England] 16 Apr. 1994

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