Portugal started in fair weather with some slick handling. Sweden responded well, building neat phases with quick repossessiona. For a long while neither side could find the golden key; then, just short of the half-hour, the Wolves mounted a massive scrum which took them over the line and left several Swedes on the ground. Daniela Correia converted well. 7-0

A crying baby on the effects mike belied the feeling of uplift among the assembled masses.

The next moment there was another scrum in the same position. This time the Swedes held it up well, so the hosts spread the ball left. An equally impressive move saw Marta Pedro slip through a gap to go over. But no, Katherine Ritchie had spotted a crossing in front of the posts. No go.

Now the weather turned, rain teeming down.

Portugal scored their next try after excellent handling to the right winger, Mariana Marques, but the referee had difficulty in seeing what was happening, so violent was the storm. As the camera turned to watch the home team walk back, nothing was visible beyond them. It was like smog.

The next moment, sunshine. Sweden built a strong position, helped by repeated Portuguese infringements that cost them a yellow card. But the Swedes lacked the skill to take advantage of promising positions. Forward drives splintered and were repelled.

After the break Ritchie had to warn captain Amanda Swartz about high tackles. Correia wisely took a pot at goal to widen the margin beyond two scores. 15-0

A fine handling move saw Portugal move further ahead through Mariana Santos. 22-0

Sweden were the authors of their own misfortune with the next score: a clearance kick was shanked, then came a knock-on. The Wolves moved the ball right where Santos again finished the job.

There were still 25 minutes to play, but no more points accrued.

Result: 27-0

Player of the Match: Daniela Correia

PThere was plenty of enterprising play from both teams, but the Lobas’ win shows the gaps that exist throughout the game. They had been beaten 31-7 by the Netherlands in their previous outing; here they were too experienced for the Swedes. And there are only four sides in this second level of European nations.

Tamara Taylor’s work goes on.

Your next date is 30 March, Spain v Portugal. Another clear winner all too likely. Teams

Portugal
1 Elsa Santos 2 Ines Cristo 3 Beatriz Rodriguez 4 Maria Morant 5 Ana Fernandes 6 Sara Moreira 7 Arlete Gonsalves 8 Adelina Costa 9 Beatriz Oliveira 10 Marta Pedro 11 Mariana Santos 12 Maria Costa 13 Mariana Marques 14 Ines Spinola 15 Daniela Correia (captain)
Bench: 16 Carlota Torres 17 Maria Teixeira 18 Zoe Fernandes 19 Ana Casas 20 Ines Barbosa 21 Leonor Amaral 22 Ines Marques 23 Cloe da Costa

Head Coach: Joao Moura

Sweden
1 Jennifer Sundqvist 2 Maja Meuller 3 Pauline Sarg 4 Linnea Flyman 5 Cornelia Noren 6 Emma Ytterbom 7 Elizabeth Sonnenholzner 8 Elin Sterner 9 Olivia Palmgren 10 Linda Hakansson 11 Sofya Smolina 12 Sara Jacobsson 13 Hanna Borgemyr 14 Isabel Wykstrom 15 Amanda Swartz (captain)
Bench: 16 Hannah Persson 17 Linn Olforser 18 Marielle Andersson 19 Frida Larsson 20 My Hallberg 21 Carina Trinh 22 Alice Pettersson 23 Cecilia Wykstrom

Head Coach: Tamara Taylor

Referee: Katherine Ritchie (RFU)

The next matches in the European Championship are Spain v Portugal; at Sitges, Spain 30 March; then Netherlands v Spain, at Amsterdam, 6 April.

The international takes place at Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York Stadium on Sunday 11 November [kick-off 13.30].

The South Yorkshire venue has hosted a number of women’s and development team fixtures. Over 10,000 spectators packed the New York Stadium to witness Jill Scott’s late equaliser which earned the Lionesses a 1-1 draw at home to Belgium in a Euro 2017 qualifier.

More recently, the home of the Millers was one of six stadia to host the men’s U17 European Championships, including the final in May.

The AESSEAL New York Stadium is also among the nine venues put forward in The FA’s bid to host the Women’s EURO 2021.

The fixture follows a clash with Brazil at Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground on Saturday 6 October [kick-off 12.30] and a match against Australia under the floodlights at Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham, on Tuesday 9 October [kick-off 19:00].

Head coach, Phil Neville, said: “This is another exciting fixture as part of our early preparations for next summer’s World Cup.  Sweden are a strong side, currently sitting eleventh in the world rankings, and we know a number of their players well.

“It was important in selecting these friendlies that we made sure we were going to be pitting ourselves against tough opposition who will really test us in the build up to the tournament.  I hope our fans will enjoy coming along to support the Lionesses in what I’m sure will be another exciting game.”

Early bird tickets are available up to and including 14 October, priced £7.50 for adults and £1 for children.  From 15 October, the price of an adult ticket goes up to £10, with children’s tickets remaining at £1.  Tickets for all fixtures are on sale now, visit TheFA.com/tickets

Courtesy of the FA

In the other match the USA won against Norway 2-1.  England will play the USA on Tuesday.

Hopefully more information to follow….

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City), Elizabeth Durack (Harvard University).

Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Molly Bartrip (Reading), Jess Carter (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Birmingham City), Millie Turner (Everton), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Paige Williams (Brescia).

Midfielders: Jade Bailey (Chelsea), Jodie Brett (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Beth England (Chelsea), Claudia Walker (Everton), Katie Zelem (Liverpool).

Forwards: Rosella Ayane (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Carla Humphrey (Doncaster Rovers Belles – on loan from Arsenal), Millie Farrow (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Melissa Lawley (Birmingham City), Taome Oliver (Notts County).

Nordic Tournament fixtures

England 1-1  Norway, England won on penalties
England 1-0 Sweden, Saturday 4 June
England v USA, Tuesday 7 June

The result also means that holders Sweden have also failed to qualify with Austria taking top spot in the group after their win over Belgium.

England: 1 Alex McIver (Manchester City); 2 Eloise Wilson (Bristol City), 5 Grace Fisk (Millwall Lionesses), 6 Gabrielle George (Everton), 3 Mayumi Pacheco (Liverpool); 15 Megan Finnigan (Everton), 14 Chloe Peplow (Birmingham City); 10 Jenna Legg (Chelsea); 11 Paula Howells (London Bees) 12 Atlanta Primus (Yeovil Town), 18 Rinsola Babajide (Millwall Lionesses)

Substitutes: 4  Zoe Cross (Chelsea) for Primus 35, 9 Lucy Loomes (Millwall Lionesses) for Howells 69, 17 Emma Kelly (Sunderland) for Legg 90

Substitutes not used:13 Sian Rogers (Arsenal), 16 Mollie Green (Liverpool) 8 Sophie Stamp (Hull City)

Head coach: Mo Marley

Cautions: Mayumi Pacheco (90)

For more information about the England women’s team visit The FA