French U20s shutout England

France - Angleterre -20 féminines : Le résumé by FFR

England's age-group side, who won 25-10 against the Army in the opening game of their season last week, weren’t able to replicate that performance against a very physical and strong French team in testing weather conditions. France started quickly, scoring in only the second minute and a handling error in the England midfield led to a turnover and quick hands freed up the French right winger, Saracens' Grace Séraphine Okemba, to dot down for the first try of the match.

France remained on top in the opening exchanges but the wet and windy conditions played a part in a number of errors from both sides.

England got into the game midway through the first half with good control and continuity to their play. England’s back row worked hard all over the pitch carrying strongly and making big defensive tackles.But it was France who struck again, doubling their lead to 10-0 on the stroke of half time. The home side maintaining possession for a number of phases before good hands allowed Okemba to race clear again. A last ditch tackle by Saracens winger Lotte Clapp hauled down her club teammate, but not before she managed to offload to outside centre Marine Menager who scored France’s second.

After the half-time break France extended out to 13-0 in the 48th minute following a successful penalty kick by half back Pauline Bourdon.

England looked to strike back moments later after a superb break by inside centre Millie Wood. But it was last gasp defence after England had recycled the ball quickly that prevented the visitors opening their account. Shortly afterwards quick hands into space allowed substitute Elise Pignot to score France’s third try in the 70th minute which was successfully converted by Bourdon. Then five minutes later France’s fly half Montserrat Amedee finished off proceedings with a fourth try for Les Bleus to make the final score 25-0.

England Head Coach Jo Yapp said: “As expected it was a really hard fought and physical game which we have come to expect from France. We were frustrated by our performance today but when we did play to our patterns we did look good. The team certainly felt the pressure of the occasion, coming to France and playin in front of a big crowd. We did see some good individual performances in the team and especially the back row who stepped up physically and stopped a lot of the French attack.But we can take plenty of things away from the match as we prepare to play them again in three weeks’ time.”

FT: France 25 England 0

Tries: Grace Séraphine Okemba, Marine Menager, Montserrat Amedee, Elise Pignot

Conversion: Pauline Bourdon

Penalty: Bourdon

England Women U20s (Name, Club, CB, Academy, AASE): 15 Rachel Lund (Worcester, Yorkshire, Midlands) C, 14 Zoe Aldcroft (Hartpury, Yorkshire, North, Hartpury College), 13 Charlotte Holland (Bath, Devon, South West), 12 Emily Wood (Lichfield, Gloucestershire, South West), 11 Charlotte Clapp (Saracens, South East), 10 Sarah Nicholas (Lichfield, Staffordshire, Midlands), 9 Devon Holt (Bristol, Berkshire, South West), 1 Henrietta  Burkinshaw (Lichfield, Yorkshire, North), 2 Lark Davies (Worcester, North Midlands, Midlands) VC, 3 Katie Trevarthen (Camp Hill, Notts, Lincs & Derby, Midlands), 4 Olivia Jones (Bristol, Oxfordshire, South West), 5 Catherine O'Donnell (Vale of Lune, Cumbria, North), 6 Abbie Walker (Worcester, Gloucestershire, South West), 7 Sarah Bern (Esher, Surrey, South East, Hartpury College), 8 Sally Stott (Vale of Lune, Lancashire, North)

Replacements: Burkinshaw off for Parsons (40 mins), Davis off for Campbell, Trevarthen off for Bradley (all in 58 mins), O’Donnell off for Wigley (62mins), Walker off for Trist, Holt off for Nye, Lund off for Bishop, Holland off for Shekells (all in71 mins)