Strong second half sees England home

France ended the game on the attack in Englands 22 but it was too little too late as the home side were left to rue errors at crucial times when they were presented with decent scoring chances.

As expected France were hugely aggressive in defence and opted to keep the game tight but as the match wore on Englands superiority in wider channels was telling as they pulled away in a strong second-half helped by a superb performance from centre Scarratt who was a huge threat throughout.

France employed a rushing narrow defence from the off putting pressure on Englands efforts in attack and the hosts also had England in trouble at the line-out winning three of the first four visitors throw-ins.

However it was from one clean England lineout that the first try scoring chance came when an off the top ball allowed Emily Scarratt break brilliantly through the middle after 20 minutes and bring play under the shadow of the French posts.

The ball moved wide but excellent scramble defence from Jessy Tremouliere managed to stop Kay Wilson go over in the corner.

Katy McLean missed her first shot at goal minutes later and then when a longer range shot was on offer she gave the ball to Scarratt who made no mistake rifling over the first penalty of the game to give England a 3-0 lead.

England were increasingly looking the better team out wide as well as on the counter-attack and it was a poor French clearance that offered the visitors the first try scoring chance.

Scarratt collected the kick and set off on a fantastic counter-attack from which England looked certain to score as Maggie Alphonsi and McLean got involved, but a final forward pass meant play was called back as the half wound down with England leading 3-0.

England started the second half strongly moving the ball quickly and forcing France into conceding a range of penalties on the floor and their early efforts paid off when Scarratt raced through for the first try of the game.

It had looked initially as if France might score when Tremouliere fly hacked through a dropped pass in mid-field but England recovered and when the ball came out to Scarratt, the standout player on the pitch skipped through a tackle from Sandrine Agricole. With no French cover in sight the centre sprinted over from 40 metres and the conversion from McLean made it 0-10.

England then immediately scored a second try delivering a hammer blow to France in the process.

A deft one-two on the wing between Rachael Burford and Kay Wilson in their own 22 created decent space and a good final pass from McLean to Wilson saw the winger race through for a 15-0 lead.

France then had their best attacking phase of the game when they attacked Englands line with vigour but Aurelie Bailon chose to kick rather than keep ball in hand and the chance was lost. They did though get another chance with a shot at goal which Bailon struck very sweetly to reduce the gap to 15-3.

France were down to 14 then when flanker Coumba Diallo was carded but regardless of their numerical disadvantage the home side made huge efforts to step up their attack as the half wore on.

They had a number of chances in Englands 22 but needless errors one a crossing penalty just a metre out from Englands line meant they just couldnt make the much needed breakthrough.

Christelle Chobet and Marie Hebel made fine efforts with ball in hand and of the backs Caroline Ladagnous seemed the most likely as her pace created in-roads but England did enough to secure a vital win on the road to what looks like another title win.(Image thanks to Cdric Poulmaire / Sportiva-infos)

France: Jessy Tremouliere, Lairelin Fourcade, Eloudie Poublan, Sandrine Agricole, Caroline Ladagnous, Aurelie Bailon, Marie Alice Yahe, Helene Ezanno, Laetitia Salles , Christelle Chobet, Marine De Nadai, Cyrielle Bouisset , Koumba Djossouvi , Coumba Diallo , Charlotte Marie Hebel

Replacements: Gaelle Mignot , Elodie Portries, Safi NDiaye (for Ezanno 71), Audrey Forlani (for De Nadai 55), Marjorie Mayans (for Agricole 64) , Laura Delas, Jennifer Troncy (for Yahe 75)

England: Natasha Hunt, Kay Wilson, Emily Scarratt, Rachael Burford, Michaela Staniford, Katy McLean (c), La Toya Mason, Laura Keates, Victoria Fleetwood, Sophie Hemming, Rowena Burnfield, Tamara Taylor, Marlie Packer, Margaret Alphonsi, Sarah Hunter

Replacements:Amy Turner (for Fleetwood 62), Rochelle Clark (for Keates 53), Rebecca Essex (for Burnfied 53) , Isabelle Noel Smith (for Packer 57), Georgina Rozario (for Mason 54), Ceri Large, Kimberley Oliver (for Hung 66)