England Women Sevens through to Cup quarter-finals in Canada

• Like
• +1

England Women Sevens will take on hosts Canada in the Cup quarter-finals of the fourth leg of the World Series in Langford today.

England booked their place in the final eight after a win over Spain, a draw against Fiji and a defeat to World Champions New Zealand on day one.

Simon Middleton’s side, who need at least a semi-final finish to keep their hopes alive of automatically qualifying Great Britain for next year’s Olympic Games, will now take on the host side Canada who sit second in the series table. England are currently sixth.

England started day one well with a convincing 31-14 victory over Spain with Natasha Brennan, Natasha Hunt, Joanne Watmore and Amy Wilson-Hardy running in five tries between them.

Next up, came the physical Fijians who really tested England. England led 14-7 at half-time but the Islanders had an impressive second half to hold England to a 19-19 draw. Tries for England came from Watmore and Wilson-Hardy.

England then faced their old rivals New Zealand in the last game of the day. New Zealand, who have won all three World Series legs this season, trailed England 5-12 at half-time but they bounced back after the restart to run in four tries to England’s two, taking a 24-12 win.

England now join Canada, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Russia, USA and France in the knock out Cup rounds.

England Women Sevens Squad

Natasha Brennan (Richmond)

Abigail Chamberlain (C) (Richmond)

Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)

Katy  Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Marlie Packer (Wasps)

Alice   Richardson (Richmond)

Leanne Riley (Saracens)

Emily  Scarratt (Lichfield)

Michaela Staniford (Wasps)

Joanne Watmore (Richmond)

Amy    Wilson-Hardy (Bristol)

Sarah McKenna (Saracens)

England Playing Schedule (April 18 & 19):

Pool games:

England 31 Spain 14

Tries: Brennan, Hunt, Watmore (2), Wilson-Hardy

Conversions: Richardson (3)

England 19 Fiji 19

Tries: Watmore (2), Wilson-Hardy

Conversions: Mclean (2)

England 12 New Zealand 24

Tries: Wilson-Hardy (2)

Conversions: Richardson

Cup Quarter-Final: England v Canada, KO 6.44pm BST