Leonard given start against Scotland



Wasps and Army player Jane Leonard has been called up to start for England against Scotland in the penultimate RBS Women’s 6 Nations match on Saturday at the Meggetland Stadium in Edinburgh, kick-off 12pm.



Flanker Leonard replaces Saracens’ Maggie Alphonsi who picked up an injury playing in a club game against Worcester at the weekend.



Leonard is one of a handful of changes for the reigning Grand Slam champions. Richmond hooker Emma Layland and Saracens full back Vicky Massarella will get their first starts of this season’s Six Nations campaign while Darlington Mowden Park Sharks centre Georgina Roberts will make her international debut. Wasps player Natalie Binstead could also earn her first cap for England if she is called off the bench.



Richmond’s Alice Richardson will start the game at fly half with Katy McLean moving to the bench, while Wasps wing Michaela Staniford moves to the left wing in place of Danielle Waterman. Worcester’s Katherine Merchant will now wear the number 14 jersey while Wasps prop Claire Purdy could earn her third cap if she too is called off the bench.



England Head Coach Gary Street said: “It is unfortunate that we have had to withdraw Maggie from this fixture, but in Jane Leonard we have a quality flanker. She has already proved herself at international level this season, making her debut against the USA in December and coming off the bench against Wales and Italy.”



England



1 Rochelle Clark Henley

2 Emma Layland Richmond

3 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria

4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps

6 Sarah Hunter Lichfield

7 Jane Leonard Wasps/Army

8 Catherine Spencer (C) Worcester

9 Amy Turner Richmond

10 Alice Richardson Richmond

11 Michaela Staniford Wasps

12 Rachael Burford Saracens

13 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

14 Katherine Merchant Worcester

15 Victoria Massarella Saracens

Replacements:

16 Amy Garnett Saracens

17 Claire Purdy Wasps

18 Natalie Binstead Wasps

19 Karen Jones Richmond

20 Danielle Waterman Clifton

21 Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

22 Claire Allan Saracens



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:04:09:34:43 by Kath..

Spencer says England cannot take anything for granted



England Women’s Captain Catherine Spencer says her side cannot rest on their laurels ahead of this Saturday’s penultimate RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at the Meggetland Stadium in Edinburgh, kick off 12pm.



England head into the game with three wins from three under their belts and on track to record an unprecedented third consecutive Grand Slam in Six Nations history. Scotland, meanwhile, are hunting for that elusive first win of the championship.



“I have taken part in some close encounters against the Scots over the years and although we go into the game as favourites we certainly cannot rest on our laurels,” said Spencer, who plays No. 8 for England and Worcester. “We will need to be extremely clinical at the breakdown and at the set-piece to ensure that we can get good quality quick ball out to our backs to enable us to play the style of rugby that we have become accustomed to.



“Although we beat Scotland well last year they will not want to be on the receiving end of such a hammering again and will be looking for revenge. They have a strong forward pack and I am sure that it will be a tough battle up front.”



England have made a handful of changes to the team that defeated France in a record away win two weeks ago. Wasps’ Jane Leonard comes in at flanker for the injured Maggie Alphonsi while Richmond hooker Emma Layland and Saracens full back Vicky Massarella will get their first starts of this season’s Six Nations campaign. Darlington Mowden Park Sharks centre Georgina Roberts will make her international debut and Wasps player Natalie Binstead could also earn her first cap for England if she is called off the bench.



Richmond’s Alice Richardson will start the game at fly half with Katy McLean moving to the bench, while Wasps wing Michaela Staniford moves to the left wing in place of Danielle Waterman. Worcester’s Katherine Merchant will now wear the number 14 jersey and Wasps prop Claire Purdy could earn her third cap if she too is called off the bench.



Spencer added: “We are going in to this game with several changes to the 22. However, I am confident that we can carry forward our momentum from the last three games. Our performance in France was fantastic; I am hoping that this will provide a good springboard for what will be another physical confrontation up in Scotland.”

Scotland 5 England 34



England Women one game away from Six Nations Grand Slam crown



England Women are just one game away from claiming an unprecedented third consecutive RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam crown after a convincing 34-5 victory against Scotland today.



The reigning champions, who’ve already defeated Wales, Italy and France in style, ran in six tries including two for Wasps winger Michaela Staniford. Henley’s Rochelle Clark, Worcester’s Katherine Merchant, Saracens’ Claire Allan and Clifton’s Danielle Waterman were also on the score-sheet.



On a rain-soaked Meggetland Stadium pitch England had to wait 14 minutes to break the duck and that score came courtesy of Staniford. The Wasps back was on the end of a well worked line-out, catch and drive which then saw the ball recycled out through the centres and on to Staniford. Richmond’s Alice Richardson converted.



11 minutes later and Henley prop Clark claimed the first touchdown for the England forwards. The loose-head capitalised on England’s pressure on Scotland’s line and hit a ruck to drive over and score. Richardson failed with the conversion, but it didn’t matter with Staniford handing the tourists a 17-0 lead at half-time after the wing battled her way through two defenders to score under the posts.



After the break Scotland had their chances and made the most of it with a 43rd minute try. A missed tackle by England cost them dear and lock Lindsay Wheeler made a big break through the midfield. She was tackled just short of the line by Staniford, but prop Heather Lockhart picked up and drove over the line.



That was where Scotland’s charge ended though and Worcester wing Katherine Merchant soon put England back on track with a 46th minute try after a nice pass from Victoria Massarella from the back of a ruck.



England then brought on the re-enforcements, bringing on five substitutions in quick successions and handing a debut to Natalie Binstead. Saracens’ Allan, playing at fullback, made an immediate impact scoring within two minutes of being on the pitch. A well-worked line-out led to a midfield attack and Allan ran in the try. This time replacement fly-half Katy McLean converted.



Clifton wing Waterman then rounded off proceedings for England with a 70th minute touchdown. Scotland paid the price for a poor clearance kick, which skipper Catherine Spencer charged down and forward Amy Garnett then popped the ball out to Waterman on the wing to make the final score 34-5.



Head Coach Gary Street said: “Today has been a good day. The conditions weren’t kind to us and I think they acted as a bit of an equaliser. For us, it was also useful to blood two new caps and try out some new combinations on the pitch.



“Scotland indeed raised their game today and defended furiously. This was one of our tougher fixtures this season though we know now that we will have to raise our game again ahead of next Saturday’s Grand Slam Championship decider against Ireland at London Irish ARFC.”



England



1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Emma Layland (Richmond), 3 Katy Storie (Blaydon Team Northumbria), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Jane Leonard (Wasps/Army), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Worcester), 9 Amy Turner (Richmond), 10 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 12 Rachael Burford (Saracens), 13 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Victoria Massarella (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 17 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 18 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 20 Danielle Waterman (Clifton), 21 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 22 Claire Allan (Saracens)



* Karen Jones was withdrawn from the bench due to illness



Tries: Staniford (2), Clark, Merchant, Allan, Waterman

Conversions: Richardson, McLean

Penalties:

Substitutions: Binstead for Hunter (40), Allan for Massarella, Waterman for Staniford, McLean for Burford, Garnett for Leonard (all 50), Purdy for Storie (60).



Scotland



1 Heather Lockhart, 2 Sarah-Louise Walker, 3 Jilly McCord, 4 Lana Blyth, 5

Lindsay Wheeler, 6 Louise Moffat, 7 Lynne Reid, 8 Sonia Cull, 9 Sarah Gill, 10 Erin Kerr, 11 Tanya Griffith, 12 Suzi Newton, 13 Veronica Fitzpatrick, 14 Cara D'Silva, 15 Lynsey Douglas. Replacements: 16 Joan Hutchison, 17 Beth Dickens, 18 Mary Lafaiki, 19 Keri Holdsworth, 20 Louise Dalgliesh, 21 Laura Steven, 22 Julie Sanaghan.



Tries: Lockhart

Conversions:

Penalties:

Half-time score: Scotland 0 England 17

Played the women!!

ClaireJ
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