In stark contrast to the melodrama in Exeter earlier, the England-Scotland match in Bristol was a foregone conclusion.
The only parallel was the rain; it poured.
Not for the first time in this tournament, the side destined to lose scored first. The moment Aurelie Groizeleau offered the Scots a penalty, Rachel Malcolm pointed to the posts. Helen Nelson obliged.
That was nearly the end of their good fortune. The pack in white got to work, the two locks, Morwenna Talling and Rosie Galligan, very prominent.
One central difference between the English and the Irish at Sandy Park was the efficiency of the backs. This wasn’t a day for fancy handling; they picked sensible options, the occasional 50:22, kicks into untenanted areas or working the ball back for the pack to exploit.
The tries started pouring from the tap. Holly Aitchison overdid a cross-kick to Abby Dow, but soon enough Kelsey Clifford added to her growing collection of tries with a drive from close in.
A clever Aitchison grubber set the Scots on their heels again. It was Talling’s turn to profit from Galligan’s quick reaction to a misfired line-out.
Abby Dow in action – photo World Rugby
On the half-hour the No 10 tried another cross-kick. This time Dow was standing like a leper – no-one within miles. She touched down for her 50th try. Now both England wingers have achieved this remarkable record. Rhona Lloyd’s positioning?
A second Clifford try concluded the half.
Half-time: England 26 Scotland 3
For once, the kick-tennis that followed was fun to watch. It was as exciting as Wimbledon. Jess Breach excelled with two high catches on the touchline.
Clifford left for an HIA (one of many today), but Amy Cokayne helped herself to a try from a driven maul.
Players were having to fight the conditions as much as the opposition.
It was sad seeing Jade Konkel leaving the field for the last time, but her successor, Evie Gallagher, kept posing Konkel-type problems for the opposition in her place.
Meg Jones couldn’t quite get first touch on another grubber, but a delightful switch-pass from Zoe Harrison to Aitchison offered her a deserved try.
The Scots excelled themselves with a last minute try, Lloyd writhing her way over. That was the third the English had conceded in the tournament.
Result: England 40 Scotland 8
Player of the Match: Morwenna Talling
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (FFR)
Attendance: 25, 295
Afterthoughts
England broke their record just in time for Canada or New Zealand to be unable to prevent them.
Ellie Kildunne was sufficiently recovered from her head-knock that she formed a fortissimo drumming-duo with Lilli Ives Campion for much of the match.
“Dangerous weapons are not admitted to the ground”?
There has been much discussion about the absence of cards. In this case for Scotland’s front row, who were persistently penalised. Laws is laws, but I don’t see how an absence of cards at Ashton Gate would have hindered England.
Bryan Easson had lost two tight-heads, Lisa Cockburn and Elliann Clarke to injury. Their replacement, Christine Belisle, wasn’t even the initial squad; she was called up on Monday.
Congrats to the stadium curator. The football markings were quite invisible.
