France U20 extend run v England

(Report RFU):England No. 8 Zoe Aldcroft followed up her player-of-the-match performance against Army Women last week with a try in the first-half which Zoe Harrison converted.

France U20s scored tries through captain Fiona Lecat, No. 8 Lucie Vinacua and full back Charlotte Torres Duxan.

They took the lead after 17 minutes when Lecat barged her way over the line and extended their advantage soon after when Vinacua crossed in the left corner.

However, England responded seven minutes before half-time when they turned over a scrum on the opposition’s five-metre line and Aldcroft pounced to score. Harrison added the extras to close the gap to five points at the break.

The match entered a tense period in the second half but the away side moved further ahead on the hour mark. England full back Catriona McNaney made a brave tackle to prevent outside centre Ian Jason from scoring, but the ball was recycled and Torres Duxan dived over out wide to seal victory for France.

'We'll learn an awful lot from this experience'

England Women U20s head coach Jo Yapp believed the result may have been different if her side had taken their chances.

"The scoreline probably didn’t reflect the game overall but France took their opportunities and we didn’t. Unfortunately we weren’t clinical enough on the day," Yapp said.

“Part of our programme is to see whether the players can pick themselves up from these sort of defeats so it will be a real test of their character.

"They did fight hard today and we can’t fault their effort but there are certain parts of our game plan that we really need to have a look at. We’ll learn an awful lot from this experience."

England U20s

Catriona McNaney (Bristol, University of Exeter), Sophie Tandy (Aylesford Bulls), Ella Wyrwas (Welwyn, Hartpury College), Lagilagi Tuima (Plymouth Albion), Emma Uren (Saracens, St Mary’s University, Twickenham), Zoe Harrison (Saracens, Middlesex University), Tazmin Bricknell (Bristol, Hartpury College); Ellena Perry (Saracens, Coventry University), Hannah West (Wasps, Brunel University), Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol, Filton College), Molly Morrissey (Lichfield, Hartpury College), Anna Wolf (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumbria University), Sally Stott (Vale of Lune, Edinburgh University), Poppy Leitch (Bristol, University of Exeter) ©, Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumbria University).

Replacements:

Ellie Gilbert (Exeter Saracens, Hartpury College), Michaella Roberts (Plymouth Albion), Brogan Churm (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumbria University), Rosanna Moynihan (Welwyn, Hartpury College), Charlie Wilcock (Waterloo), Brooke Bradley (Bristol), Lucy Attwood (Bristol, University of Bristol), Brooke Clarke (Worcester Valkyries).

France U20s

Charlotte Torres Duxan, Margaux Vandesteene, Ian Jason, Andréa Marcial, Léa Murie, Gabrielle Vernier, Justine Breyne; Morgane Deschamps, Oksana Lagache Guery, Maelia Lapoujade, Lindsey Thimon, Leila Bessahili, Marie Hamon, Fione Lecat, Lucie Vinacua.

Replacements: Alicia Riffoneau, Elisa Guiget, Clara Joyeux, Mélanie Daugreilh, Philippine Mias, Julie Coudert, Romane Silvestre, Maelle Filipon.