England:<\/strong> (33) 73<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| Tries: <\/strong>Rowland 3, Scarratt 2, Packer, Penalty, Kildunne, Cokayne, Botterman, Aldcroft; <\/span>Cons:<\/strong> Scarratt 5, Rowland<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Wales:<\/strong> (7) 3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Try:<\/strong> Crabb; <\/span>Con:<\/strong> Snowsill<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | England became the first team in history to win 25 Tests in a row as they finished their World Cup preparations with an 11-try win against Wales at Bristol’s Ashton Gate.<\/span><\/p>\n The Red Roses scored six tries to Wales’ one in the first half.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Their dominance only grew after the break as centre Helena Rowland completed a hat-trick.<\/span><\/p>\n It was the last chance for both coaches to look at their sides before they name their 32-player World Cup squads.<\/span><\/p>\n England’s squad will be announced on Tuesday and Wales’ on Wednesday, with the tournament starting in New Zealand on 8 October.<\/span><\/p>\n Paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, both sides wore black armbands during the national anthem and match shirts paid tribute to the monarch.<\/span><\/p>\n A minute’s silence was observed at Ashton Gate and the big screen showed a tribute while the crowd gave a heartfelt rendition of God Save The King and applauded on the 70th minute of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n England go into the World Cup as favourites, with their last loss coming against New Zealand in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Their forwards asserted an early dominance against the visitors that never softened and several members of the backline sparkled in their last bid for World Cup selection.<\/span><\/p>\n Head coach Simon Middleton says inside centre will be a tough call but Rowland – who can also play full-back and fly-half – surely answered that question as she found every possible gap in the Welsh line.<\/span><\/p>\n Full-back Ellie Kildunne also looked lively, showing good tactical sense to pin Wales in the corner with a kick – a move that eventually led to a penalty try for England.<\/span><\/p>\n But it was not everyone’s day. Star fly-half Zoe Harrison – in whom Middleton has seemingly put all his faith – was not as sharp as usual and wing Lydia Thompson perhaps lacked the finishing ability of other competitors in the back three.<\/span><\/p>\n Another cause for concern is a possible injury to hooker Lark Davies given she hobbled off the field after 35 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n But replacement Amy Cokayne showed she could go it alone, at one point offering backline speed to cut through the Welsh defence and set up Rowland’s second try.<\/span><\/p>\n While England’s set-piece led to a glut of tries, Wales continued to struggle with theirs as in their last outing against Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n Playing their first game against England since the whole side was made professional – which the Red Roses have been since 2019 – Wales’ line-outs went awry and their scrum was repeatedly pushed backwards. <\/span><\/p>\n The visitors did eventually land a clean line-out to give travelling fans hope as Gwen Crabb drove over the line and Elinor Snowsill’s conversion levelled things at 7-7.<\/span><\/p>\n Alex Callender was shown a yellow card Wales could ill afford, with former England centre Carys Williams-Morris stepping into the scrum in her absence.<\/span><\/p>\n Callender later made some amends, showing no lack of desire as, with Wales 45-7 down in the second half, she successfully charged down an Emily Scarratt conversion.<\/span><\/p>\n But Ioan Cunningham’s side’s inability to clear their lines with the boot added to the set-piece woes, ultimately resulting in another heavy defeat to England.<\/span><\/p>\n England: <\/strong>Kildunne; Thompson, Scarratt, Rowland, McKenna; Harrison, L Packer; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Aldcroft, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt).<\/span><\/p>\n Replacements:<\/em> Cokayne, Botterman, Muir, Beckett, P Cleall, MacDonald, Reed, Aitchison.<\/span><\/p>\n Wales:<\/strong> Terry; Norkett, Williams-Morris, H Jones (capt), Joyce; Snowsill, F Lewis; Pyrs, Phillips, Hale, John, Crabb, Butchers, Callender, Harries.<\/span><\/p>\n |
![\"Players](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/onesport\/cps\/624\/cpsprodpb\/BDB1\/production\/_126716584_gettyimages-1423694136.jpg\")
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