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England Women`s A off to a flyer

Thursday 13th December 2007

Shelley Rae celebrates with Heidi Shelburg

England Women's A started their season in fine style with a 34-17 victory over the USA at London Irish RFC on Wednesday.

In their opening game of the season they started in scintillating style, scoring five tries in the first-half, including a brace for Samantha Dale.

"This is a good start and the first-half was particularly encouraging," said head coach Mike Barnett.

"We have got to give the USA credit as they fought back bravely after going down 29-0 in the first-half."

Worcester prop Dale got the ball rolling for England after just four minutes when she touched down in the left corner. Wasps number eight Heidi Shelburg then helped England double their lead after just seven minutes.

Two minutes later it was the turn of the backs to get on the scoreboard, with the third try coming courtesy of Saracens full-back Vicky Massarella.

Gemma Sharples claimed try number four with barely a quarter of the game gone, before Dale completed the first-half proceedings with her second score three minutes later.

The Eagles refused to roll over and surrender in the second-half, hitting back with a try of their own, from scrum-half Kim Magrini. England hit straight back with their final try of the game, coming from Charlotte Boggis after slick hands in the backs.

Back came the Eagles however with two late tries from Natalie Marchino and Kristen Zdanczewicz making the final score 34-17.

The Scorers:

For England Women's A:
Tries: Dale 2, Shelbury, Massarella, Sharples, Boggis
Cons: Rae 2

For Eagles Women:
Tries: Magrini, Marchino, Zdanczewicz
Con: Smit

The Teams:

England Women's A: 15 Victoria Massarella, 14 Katherine Merchant, 13 Michaela Staniford, 12 Tina Lee, 11 Fiona Pocock, 10 Shelley Rae, 9 Harriet Slynn, 8 Heidi Shelburg, 7 Gemma Sharples, 6 Karen Jones, 5 Sara Anastasi, 4 Alexandra Stevens, 3 Claire Purdy, 2 Samantha Dale, 1 Rosemarie Crowley.
Replacements: 16 Samantha Jamieson, 17 Katherine Smith, 18 Natalie Binstead, 19 Sonia Green, 20 Charlotte Boggis, 21 Helen Price, 22 Vicki Jackson.

Women Eagles: 15 Ashley English, 14 Melissa Smit, 13 San Juanita Moreno, 12 Emilie Bydwell, 11 Nathalie Marchino, 10 Meg Crapster-Pregont, 9 Kim Magrini, 8 Sara Merritt, 7 Beckett Royce, 6 Liz Dilley, 5 Jaime Lange, 4 Kati McCormick, 3 Carrie DuBray, 2 Mari Wallace, 1 Heather Jennings.
Replacements: 16 Lisa Butts, 17 Jamie Burke, 18 Shaina Turley, 19 Blair Groefsema, 20 Rose Whitmore, 21 Jossy Tseng, 22 Kristen Zdanczewicz.

Referee: Rebecca Patrick
Touch judges: Claire Hodnett, Andrea Ttofa