England and France unbeaten at U18 6N festival

Day one of the Six Nations Festival at Wellington Collegee in Berkshire saw England and France win both of their opening fixtures, with wins also for Wales and Ireland.

Published by John Birch, April 7th, 2023

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England and France unbeaten at U18 6N festival

Photo: Miles Myerscough-Harris@expiredfilmclub& SRU

England failed to concede a point in their two games. Their opening game against was played almost entirely in the Welsh half, but impressive Welsh defence kept them at bay until midway through the game, when a perfect Millie Hyett crosskick found Connie Clarke for the opening try They looked like being the only try until the Wales were reduced to 14 and Daisy Aspinall scored from the final play of the game.

England’s second game with Scotland followed a similar pattern until some excellent footwork by Ella Cromack resulted in her scoring England’s first try. Lauren Bailey capitalised on a break by Haineala Lutui for the second try, and Natalee Evans scored a third, supporting Lauren Bailey who was just held up on the line.

Wales took on Scotland in the third game. An interception by Sian Jones set up the first try for Wales, scored by Erin Jones. Wales added a second in the 11thminute, Abi Meyrick ending a period of Welsh pressure with the try, and Hannah Lane added a third in the 25thminute. However, a well anticipated interception by Freya MacColl put Scotland on the board a few minutes later.

In the afternoon France began against Wales. Lise Geneste opened the scoring in the second minute, peeling off the back of a scrum to power over. Excellent handling resulted in a second team try by France completed by Maya Grat after six minutes. However, Ireland battled back, Alma Obehi Atagamen finding a gap in the French defence to crash over. France’s backs were on form to replay almost immediately through Noa Coudre, with a superb conversion by Charlie Gauyat giving them a 19-5 lead after 18m. But within two minutes a superb rolling maul resulted in Ireland’s second try from Kelly Burke. France’s backs were soon in action again, however, Garance Merle adding a fourth try after 25m. The power of Ireland’s pack gave them one more try through Roisin Maher, but the score ended 24-15 in the probably the game of the day.

France overwhelmed Italy with a nine-try 55-0 win in the next game, before Ireland took on Italy. Ireland looked likely to perhaps match France’s result especially when Niamh Murphy scored after just two minutes, but Italy responded well as Ireland repeatedly infringed, but despite having perhaps the most powerful pack, Italy chose to run every penalty, and despite the pressure Ireland were able to keep them out. Beth Buttimer added a second try in the 12thminute. Italy had most of the possession for the rest of the game but even when Ireland were reduced to 14 (after the referee finally lost her patience) they could not cross the line.

Results

England U18 10-0 Wales U18England U18 21-0 Scotland U18Wales U18 17-7 Scotland U18France U18 24-15 Ireland U18Italy U18 0-55 France U18Ireland U18 10-0 Italy U18

Squads:

England:Daisy Aspinall (Burton, CoE: Gloucester Hartpury, 4 caps); Lauren Bailey (Dings Crusaders, Bristol, 1 cap); Lucy Calladine (Burton, Worcester, 1 cap); Bridget Campbell (Sandal, Yorkshire, 4 caps); Connie Clarke (Preston Grasshoppers, Sale, 1 cap); Ella Cromack (Reading, Wasps, 1 cap); Millie David (Reading, Wasps, 1 cap); Natalee Evans (Shrewsbury, Worcester, 1 cap); Lucy Finch (Henley College, Harlequins, uncapped); Emma Gerrard (Morpeth, North East and Cumbria, uncapped); Evie Haskell (Mansfield, Loughborough, 1 cap); Millie Hyett (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury, uncapped); Lauren Knowler (Henley College, Harlequins, 1 cap); Haineala Lutui (Worcester, Worcester, uncapped); Amelia MacDougall (Old Albanians, Saracens, uncapped); Sophie McQueen (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury, 5 caps); Annabel Meta (Wimbledon, Harlequins, 1 cap); Josie Plant (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter, 4 caps); Sarah Parry (Shrewbury, Worcester, uncapped); Tilly Poland (Farnham, Harlequins, uncapped); Anna Richardson (Tynedale, North East and Cumbria, 4 caps); Hannah Sams (Ivybridge, Exeter, 5 caps); Lucie Sams (Liverpool St Helens, Sale, 1 cap); Sam Shiels (Henley College, Wasps, uncapped); Lucy Simpson (Hartpury College, Gloucester Hartpury, uncapped); Lucy Ward (Exeter College, Exeter, 1 cap); Amelia Williams (Medway, Gloucester Hartpury, 1 cap); Ellie Wood (Sidmouth, Exeter, uncapped)

France:Kelly Arbey (Stade Toulousain / APER Toulouse); Maéva Beaurin (Stade Rennais Rugby / APER Rennes) ; Zoé Burel (Blagnac RF / APER Toulouse); Paola Castello (Stade Toulousain / APER Toulouse); LAFON Coste Émeline (CA Brive Corrèze / APER Brive) ; Noa Coudre (Lyon OU / APER Lyon); Perrine Fagnen (Stade Rennais Rugby / APER Rennes) ; Elina Folituu (Stade Toulousain / APER Toulouse); Charlie Gauyat (AS Bayonnaise, APER Bayonne) ; Lise Geneste (CA Brive Corrèze / APER Brive) ; Alice Grandhomme (ASM Romagnat RF / APER Clermont) ; Maya Grat (SU Agen / APER Agen); Léa Guiton (SU Agen / APER Agen); Naëlle Jovial (AC Bobigny 93 Rugby / APER Aulnay-sous-bois) ; Mawa Kane (Rugby Olympique Pantin / AC Bobigny 93 Rugby / APER Aulnay-sous-bois); Nelcya Kouyate (Stade Bordelais / APER Talence); Zarasoa Macquart (Stade Toulousain / APER Toulouse); Garance Merle (Lyon OU / APER Lyon); Mariam Niakate (RC Chilly-Mazarin féminin / APER Brétigny-sur-Orge) ; Anaïs Peralez (US Colomiers / APER Toulouse); Faustine Piscicelli (FC Grenoble Amazones) ; DUCHOSE Rivoal Emma (CA Brive Corrèze / APER Brive) ; Suliana Sivi (Stade Rennais Rugby / APER Rennes) ; Aelig Tregouet (SU Agen / APER Agen); Léa Trollier (Lyon OU / APER Lyon); Chloé Vauclin (Stade Rennais Rugby / APER Rennes) ; Marion Zdzioblo (CA Brive Corrèze / APER Brive) ; Iness Zeze (Rugby Olympique Pantin / APER Aulnay-sous-bois)

Ireland:Grainne Burke (Munster/Ennis RFC); Kelly Burke (Leinster/Mullingar RFC); Beth Buttimer (Munster/Fethard RFC)*; Lily Byrne (Leinster/Skerries RFC); Poppy Garvey (Connacht/Sligo RFC); Beibhinn Gleeson (Connacht/Oughterard/Tuam RFC); Roisin Maher (Connacht/Creggs RFC); Lilly Morris (Munster/Killarney RFC); Sarah McCormick (Connacht/Ballina RFC)*; Alma Obehi Atagamen (Leinster/Balbriggan RFC); Ellen O’Toole (Connacht/Wesport RFC);Ruby Starrett (Ulster/Larne RFC); Ailish Quinn (Connacht/Ballina RFC); Orla Wafer (Leinster/Enniscorthy RFC)*; Saskia Wycherly (Munster/Bantry Bay RFC);Molly Boote (Connacht/Connemara RFC)*; Emma Brogan (Leinster/Navan RFC); Lyndsey Clarke (Munster/Ennis RFC); Hannah Clarke (Connacht/Oughterard/Tuam RFC); Katie Corrigan (Leinster/Tullow RFC)*; Emily Foley (Connacht/Ballina RFC); Caitriona Finn (Munster/UL Bohemians/Ballina-Killaloe RFC); May Goulding (IQ Rugby/Hartpury); Abby Healy (Leinster/Wicklow RFC); Lucia Linn (IQ Rugby/Loughborough University); Grainne Moran (Connacht/Ballina RFC); Niamh Murphy (Leinster/Cill Dara RFC); Robyn O’Connor (Leinster/Wexford Wanderers RFC)

Italy:Giada Abiti (Iniziative Villorba); Mary Akosa (Rugby Colorno); Ilaria Alonzi (Us Roma Rugby); Viola Bernuzzi  (C.U.S. Genova); Alessia Cagnotto (Cus Torino); Miriana Carlini (Lupi Frascati Rugby); Elisa Cecati (Volvera Rugby); Chiara Cheli (Rugby Colorno); Greta Copat (Iniziative Villorba); Morgana Corsaro (Us Roma Rugby); Elettra Costantini (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Giorgia Cuppari (Rugby Parabiago); Sara D'andrea (Lupi Frascati Rugby); Penelope D'epiro (Us Roma Rugby); Eva Eschylle (Rugby Lucca); Carola Fogarin (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Laura Lina Foscato (Cus Milano Rugby); Nami Fujimoto (Cus Milano Rugby); Asia Liccardo (I Puma Bisenzio Rugby); Antonella Maione (Amat.R.Torre Del Greco); Sara Mannini (Rugby Colorno); Lucie Jeanne Moioli (I Centurioni Rugby); Ilaria Remonti (Rugby Parabiago); Maria Nicole Ruggio (Rugby Colorno); Desiree Spinelli (Benetton R. Treviso); Emma Tognon (Valsugana Rugby Padova; Margherita Tonelotto (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Lavinia Tonna (Lupi Frascati Rugby)

Scotland:Alexi McLeman (Highland), Chloe Brown (Stirling County), Dawn Lawrie (Perthshire), Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County), Ella Williams (Bristol Bears), Ellie-Jo Simpson (Perthshire), Emily Coubrough (Bigger), Eva Finnie (Strathmore), Faye Sutherland (Edinburgh Harlequins), Freya Lejkowski (Biggar), Freya MacColl (Stirling County), Hannah Dunnett (Caithness), Holland Bogan CAPTAIN (Cartha Queens Park), Hollie Howland (Stirling County), Isla Jamieson (Corstorphine Cougars), Isla Wheeler (Hillhead Jordanhill), Karis Craig (Watsonians), Lottie Russell (Stirling County), Lucy MacRae CAPTAIN (Stirling County), Megan Hyland (Garioch), Niamh Robertson-Jack (Stirling County), Nicole Flynn (Stirling County), Rebecca Carroll (Perthshire), Rebekah Douglas (Corstorphine Cougars), Rianna Darroch (Highland), Tessia Smyth (Stirling County)

Wales:Chloe Thomas Bradley (Coleg Gwent Crosskeys | Dragons RFC), Niamh Padmore (Cardiff and Vale College | Cardiff Rugby), Abi Meyrick (Coleg Gwent Crosskeys | Dragons RFC), Chloe Gant (Bridgend College | Ospreys), Molly Wakely (Coleg Gwent Crosskeys | Dragons RFC), Elan Jones (Ceirw Nant | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Cadi-Lois Davies (Lampeter Ladies | Scarlets), Milly Summer (Llandovery College | Scarlets), Alaw Pyrs (Hartpury College | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Robyn Davies (West Swansea Hawkes | Ospreys), Erin Jones (Ceirw Nant | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru, Poppy Ellis (Chester | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Catrin Stewart Môn Stars Llangefni | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Katie Sims (Cardiff and Vale College | Cardiff Rugby), Maisie Davies (Burry Port | Scarlets), Gwennan Hopkins (Hartpury College | Cardiff Rugby), Katie Bevans (Jesters | Dragons RFC), Sian Jones (Sale Sharks | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Carys Whitfield (Sale Sharks | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Rachel Thomas-Evans (Cardiff Quins RFC | Cardiff Rugby), Hannah Lane (Sale Sharks | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Molly-mae Powell (Nelson Belles | Dragons RFC), Kelsie Webster (Hartpury College | Rygbi Gogledd Cymru), Savannah Picton-Powell (Nelson Belles | Dragons RFC), Nia Fajeyisan (Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr | Cardiff Rugby), Carys Hughes (Hartpury College | Scarlets), Bronwen Griffin (Ysgol Y Strade | Scarlets), Rhiannon Griffin (Ysgol Y Strade | Scarlets)

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