England Women National Academy were beaten 35-14 by Canada Women A at Cobham RFC on Wednesday.
Jo Yapp’s side trailed 14-7 at the break, with Canada scoring converted tries through Brittany Kassil and Gabby Senft, while England responded through Rosie Galligan with Ellie Green converting.
Elizabeth Crake crossed for England which Lizzie Goulden converted but Canada scored three second-half tries through Taylor Black, Olivia DeMerchant and Alysha Corrigan as well as three Irene Patrinos conversions to seal victory.
The match was a second for England National Academy having taking on United States Select last week.
Canada were first to strike in Cobham, as Kassil charged over after a period of sustained pressure, while Senft also bundled over off the back of a scrum and Irene Patrinos’ second conversion took the score to 14-0.
England came fighting back and Galligan crossed for a deserved try after cutting a fine line to sear through Canada’s defence while Green’s conversion reduced the deficit to seven points at the break.
Black scored Canada’s third after flying through before England’s Crake powered through for a fine individual try to reduce the score to 21-14.
DeMerchant bundled across for a fourth try, while Corrigan went over in the corner in the final action of the match.
“The girls really stepped up from last week, and although the result didn’t go our way the actual intensity and physicality of their performance is something they should be really proud of,” said Yapp.
“These two matches have been hugely valuable, ultimately these girls are getting an opportunity to step up against full internationals. United States and Canada have given us a really good test and allowed us to see what these girls are about and that’s ultimately what these games are for. They are to see who can make the step up in terms of playing in an England shirt.”
England Women match-day 23
15. Merryn Doidge (Bristol Bears Women)*
14. Olivia Jones (Loughborough Lightning)
13. Shauna Bennett (Gloucester-Hartpury)*
12. Lauren Cattell (Saracens)**
11. Georgie Lingham (Saracens)
10. Ellie Green (Harlequins)*
9. Megan Davey (Loughborough Lightning)*
1. Detysha Harper (Firwood Waterloo Ladies)*
2. Clara Nielson (Bristol Bears Women)
3. Sasha Acheson (Gloucester-Hartpury)**
4. Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC)** ©
5. Rosie Galligan (Saracens)
6. Katherine Hobson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
7. Poppy Leitch (Bristol Bears Women)**
8. Elizabeth Crake (Wasps FC Ladies)
16. Hannah West (Wasps FC Ladies)
17. Akina Gondwe (Worcester Valkyries)*
18. Chloe Edwards (Harlequins)
19. Amelia Buckland-Hurry (Bristol Bears Women)
20. Rianna Manson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
21. Caity Mattinson (Bristol Bears Women)**
22. Lizzie Goulden (Wasps FC Ladies)
23. Lily Stoegar-Goddard (Bristol Bears Women)
* England Women U20 218/19 squad member
** England Women capped player
Courtesy of the RFU
