WORCESTER Valkyries’ Lydia Thompson came off the bench in England’s crushing 53-10 victory over Australia in their International Women’s Rugby Series opener.
Herefordshire’s Izzy Noel-Smith was among the scorers as the Red Roses bagged nine tries in an emphatic 53-10 victory at Porirua Park, New Zealand.
Sarah McKenna (3), Kay Wilson (2), Abbie Scott, Vicky Fleetwood and Harriet Millar-Mills also crossed for England, while Emily Scott slotted four conversions.
England’s next match is against Canada on Tuesday (1.30am BST).
England match-day 23 against Australia:
15 Emily Scott (Saracens, 22 caps)
14 Kay Wilson (Richmond, 43 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Bristol, 3 caps)
12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 66 caps)
11 Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 13 caps)
10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 84 caps)
9 Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls, 10 caps)
1 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls, 24 caps)
2 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 60 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol, 9 caps)
4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 104 caps)
5 Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 15 caps)
6 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 44 caps)
7 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 30 caps)
8 Alex Matthews (Richmond, 30 caps)
16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 26 caps)
17 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 20 caps)
18 Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 8 caps)
19 Emily Braund (Lichfield, 25 caps)
20 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 91 caps)
21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 36 caps)
22 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 67 caps)
23 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 32 caps)
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