England finished ninth at the HSBC USA Women’s Sevens after two victories on day two of the competition.
After finishing third in Pool A on Saturday, Charlie Hayter’s side secured a 34-14 victory against Brazil in their ninth place semi-final.
Amy Wilson Hardy scored her first try of the weekend, Celia Quansah touched down but Brazil closed the gap through Thalia Costa on the stroke of half-time.
In the second period, Emma Uren scored before Costa responded once more. The influential Heather Fisher and Deborah Fleming crossed before Quansah ensure a comfortable climax to the closing stages.
Pool A counterparts Japan were the opponents in the final and Quansah opened the scoring with her fourth try of the weekend, before Riho Kurogi put Japan ahead.
England rallied as Fisher and Aitchison added further scores before the break.
To cap off what was a much-improved display to yesterday’s victory over the same opponents, Fleming, captain Abbie Brown and Quansah went over before Japan captain Rachel Bativakalolo dotted down for a consolation score.
England Women Sevens head coach Charlie Hayter said: “It was good to get the World Series underway in Glendale. It was great to see our growth over the weekend, especially our performances on day two.
“We have lots to look at and learn from before Dubai but this was an exciting first step on the World Series this season.
“We are also pleased to see Jodie Ounsley out there making her debut. She had great effort and attitude towards what she was doing.
“I’m really excited to get back into training and look at where we’ve gone right and wrong this weekend and look to progress and keep taking steps forward on this journey as a team.”
USA Women’s Sevens results
Pool A – England 22-38 Russia
Tries: Jones, Rowland, Aitchison, Quansah
Pool A – England 21-14 Japan
Tries: Jones, Aitchison, Uren
Pool A – England 0-36 New Zealand
Ninth place semi-final – England 34-14 Brazil
Tries: Wilson Hardy, Quansah (2), Uren, Fisher, Fleming
Ninth place final – England 36-14 Japan
Tries: Quansah (2), Fisher, Aitchison, Fleming, Brown
England Women Sevens squad for Glendale, Colorado:
Jodie Ounsley
Abbie Brown (C)
Abi Burton
Heather Fisher
Helena Rowland
Deborah Fleming
Emma Uren
Celia Quansah
Alex Matthews
Megan Jones
Holly Aitchison
Amy Wilson Hardy
Courtesy of the RFU
