Grand Slam still on for England

Wales played a full part in the game won 20-13 by the hosts, scoring their first tries against England away from home since 2006 - both from Robyn Wilkins - and showing great heart in defence despite being under huge territorial pressure through a huge proportion of the game. They were right in the match till the final whistle, as they went in search for a levelling try, but England had done just enough.

England made a bright start finding themselves on the Welsh line within five minutes after a well worked driving maul and it took a huge rearguard effort from Wales to stop a very early score.

From a penalty England went for the corner but Wales repelled them again despite a great surge from Sarah Hunter through the middle.

In the end the pressure told and Wales conceded after a brilliantly organised England maul created space and Ceri Large used her power and pace to score the game’s first try after 10 minutes.

England were rampant as they grew into the game - an excellent break from Abbie Scott the pick of the attacking play - and Wales were hanging on. Scott was forced off with injury but from a kickable position, England turned down the resultant penalty and went for the corner but Wales did well again to clear their lines eventually.

A lovely kick from Elinor Snowsill put Katie Mason, at fullback,  under huge pressure and for the first time after 25 minutes Wales had a scrum just outside England’s 22 but they couldn't make it count and within minutes they were back defending their own line.

This time Amber Reed, who had a superb game, made a great burst through the middle and a perfect offload to Large saw her power over for her second try of the game. It was tough luck for Wales who had defended with great heart, especially through captain Rachael Taylor but it was no more than England deserved with their dominance. Reed added the extras for a 14-0 lead just outside the half-hour mark.

Robyn Wilkins then had Wales’ first effort at the posts and her strike made it 14-3 just minutes later.

Wales front row replacement Amy Evans made a big impact with her ball carrying helping her side into much better field position and Wilkins had another go at the posts just before the break but it was just short.

A searing run from Lydia Thompson helped England end the half on a high though as England turned around with an 11 point lead.

Wales came out firing but two outstanding turnovers by Reed in the same passage of play scuppered their early good efforts, with Evans and youngster Keira Bevan impressive.

But Wales came again and a series of well organised forward drives took them over the line and from the scrum, they were awarded another penalty and scrummed again just five metres out. This time England won the ball but a charge down saw the ball bobble loose and Wilkins was on hand to dive on it and Wales were suddenly back in it.

Remarkably it was the first try Wales had scored against England in England since 2006.  Finally Wales had some front foot ball to work with and they started to work carriers like Shona Powell-Hughes into the game through the middle - though one hit on her from Reed had the crowd wincing.

But England came roaring back. Thompson sped through on  a mazy run and then Lauren Cattell found a bit of space down the left wing and eventually Reed had another shot at the posts which she took to push the lead out to 17-8.

England looked in control but out of nowhere a rushed defence saw Wilkins latch onto an intercepted pass and was underneath the posts in a flash. Her conversion was brilliantly charged down by the irrepressible Rochelle Clark - a costly error from an easy kick.

The game was bursting into life and England set winger Lotte Clapp away on the right for a 20 metre dart that took her to the try line and strong driving work up front  kept the pressure on an overworked Welsh defence.  England were over the line twice but held up and eventually Wales got out of the danger zone when the hosts were pinged for an accidental offside.

With just five minutes to go it was all to play for but it was all England and they were back within a metre of the try line again with Millar Mills powering her way past defenders to sent Wales backwards.

Finally the penalty came for Reed to have a go at the posts and her fine strike made the game safe at 20-13.

Wales:15 Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets / Pontyclun), 14 Bethan Dainton (Dragons / Bristol), 13 Hannah Jones (Scarlets / Penybanc), 12 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys / Llandaff North), 11 Elen Evans (Scarlets / Caernarfon), 10 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons / Bristol) 9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys / Skewen);, 1 Catrin Edwards (Scarlets / Llandaff North), 2 Carys Phillips (Ospreys / Skewen), 3 Megan York (Dragons / Ynysddu), 4 Rebecca Rowe (Dragons / Richmond), 5 Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys / Skewen), 6 Rachel Taylor (Dragons / Caernarfon - Captain), 7 Sian Williams (Dragons / Worcester), 8 Alishia Butchers (Whitland /Scarlets)Replacements: 8 Amy Evans (Ospreys / Skewen) for Edwards 27mins, 19 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys/ Skewen) for Rowe 56 mins, 16 Amy Price (Ospreys / Skewen) for Butchers 73 mins.

England:15. Katie Mason (Bristol) 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester) 13. Lauren Cattell (Saracens) 12. Ceri Large (Worcester) 11. Lotte Clapp (Saracens) 10. Amber Reed (Bristol) 9. La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park) 1. Rochelle Clark (Worcester) 2. Emma Croker (Richmond) 3. Vickii Cornborough (Richmond) 4. Emily Braund (Lichfield)  5. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park)  6. Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park, 13 caps) 7. Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol) 8. Sarah Hunter (Bristol)Replacements: Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield) for Scott 14m, 16. Amy Cokayne (Lichfield) for Croker 47m, 21. Bianca Blackburn (Worcester) for Mason 57, 17. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park, 5 caps) 18. Bianca Dawson (Wasps, 3 caps) for Clark and Cornborough 75 mins  20. Poppy Leitch (Bristol) 22. Poppy Cleall (Saracens) for Taylor and Noel-Smith, 79 mins.