FORUMS FORUMS






RLFANS.COM
Celebrating
25 years service to
the Rugby League
Community!

  

Craig Richards’ St Helens dominated England side travelled to Perpignan for a test match against the French national side in the last outing of 2021 in front of a sell-out crowd at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in a double-header with the men’s game.

Little was known about the opposition, but it was England who were the big favourites for the win, but a partisan home crowd could count as an extra player for the home side.

England won 54-4 in Carcassonne the last time that the two sides met almost three years ago in October 2018, but the promise from France was that this would be a very different game despite ‘Les Tricolores never having beaten England.

Back to back French errors gifted England good early possession and position but good French defence managed to frustrate the attack despite playing the early part of the game deep inside their own half.

It took a moment of individual quality to open the scoring on twenty-five after fast hands saw the ball into the hands of Amy Hardcastle who evaded two French tacklers in a thirty-metre run to score by the left upright. Tara-Jane Stanley added the conversion for a 6-0 lead.

Five minutes later and the England lead was doubled with Page Travis palming off three tacklers in a twenty-metre run through a tiring French defence and dab down under the uprights. Stanley added the conversion for 12-0. England finally finding their feet.

On thirty-five, with England now dominating, skipper Emily Rudge went from first receiver, threw a dummy and then went over the top of her tackler to stretch for the line. Stanley was unable to add the conversion, but a terrific last quarter hour had seen the visitors take control of the game.

The second half was just forty-five seconds old when a Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge one-two saw Cunningham sprint forty metres to score under the sticks and give Stanley a simple goal to give England a 22-0 lead.

On fifty-eight England were in for their second of the half with Rudge busting the line and forcing the ball onto the ground for her second of the game. Beth Stott took over the kicking duties and added the conversion.

Tara Jones took a late offload to go through an inattentive French defence to score under the sticks from ten metres out. Stanley was back on kicking duties to add the extras with England now cruising to the win.

A thirty metre Caitlan Beevers sprint, off a Rachael Woosey thirty metre scoot from acting half back, was all too easy for England on seventy-seven.  Stanley added the conversion to bring up the forty as England sought to keep their opponents off the score sheet.

Melanie Bianchini scored a late France consoltation as she took an inside pass and used her strength to get over the line. As the final hooter sounded, Tallis Kuresa was wide with the conversion attempt but France did have something to show for their efforts.

A tough opening twenty-five, during which neither side could breach their opponents defence, gave way to a progression of seven well worked tries for a comprehensive victory to end a superb domestic season.

France: Elisa Ciria; Christina Song Puche, Melanie Bianchini (T), Zoe Pastre Courtine, Manon Samarra, Elodie Pacull, Alice Varela, Jeanne Bernard, Cyndia Mansard, Gaelle Alvherne, Elisa Akpa, Laureane Biville, Leila Bessahli. Interchange: Fanny Ramos, Mailys Borak, Ines Legout, Tallis Kuresa.

England: Tara-Jane Stanley (Castleford Tigers) (5G), Fran Goldthorp (Leeds Rhinos), Savannah Andrade (York City Knights), Amy Hardcastle (St Helens) (T), Caitlin Beevers (Leeds Rhinos) (T), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens) (T), Beth Stott (St Helens) (G), Grace Field (York City Knights), Tara Jones (St Helens) (T), Chantelle Crowl (St Helens), Emily Rudge (St Helens - Captain) (2T), Hollie Dodd (Castleford Tigers), Vicky Molyneux (Wigan Warriors). Interchange: Shona Hoyle (Huddersfield Giants), Paige Travis (St Helens) (T), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Rachael Woosey (St Helens).

Half-Time: 0-16.

Full-Time: 4-40.

Referee: Andrew Pilkington.

Score Progression: 0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 0-16 : HT : 0-20, 0-22, 0-26, 0-28, 0-32, 0-34, 0-38, 0-40, 4-40 : FT.



facebook sharing button
twitter sharing button
pinterest sharing button
email sharing button
sharethis sharing button


Posted by RLFANS News Hound on Sat 23rd Oct 2021 1:57 PM | Views : 60463 | Replies : 0 | BACK TO STORIES
RLFANS Recent Posts
FORUM
LAST
POST
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
2m
Rd 6 I Cas A
Loiner at la
111
6m
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
Recent
TV games not Wire
Alffi_7
2865
Recent
The Good Friday Derby Massacre
CarlB
140
Recent
Ky Rodwell
Eastern Wild
110
Recent
Game - Song Titles
Wanderer
34291
Recent
BORED The Band Name Game
Wanderer
56012
FORUM
LAST
VIEW
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
54s
Smith - should he stay or should he go
weaver93
359
1m
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
1m
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
1m
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
1m
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
1m
Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4
Jack Burton
8703
2m
TV Games - Not Hull
Chris71
1385
2m
2024 Southstandercom Prediction Competition Week 6
rhinosTY
36
3m
Other Championship Clubs
FOREVERTRIN
98
4m
Spare Tickets Friday
post
4
FORUM
NEW
TOPICS
TOPIC
POSTER
POSTS
TODAY
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhinos Go Level Top
RLFANS News
1
TODAY
York - 14th April
Belle Vue
11
TODAY
Stats article
Sir Gregory
5
TODAY
21 man Squads - Devils v Leopards
Cokey
4
TODAY
Squad for Catalan
Smiffy27
17
TODAY
The Wigan Way - New Podcast - Chairman Special
Jukesays
1
TODAY
Dons v Swinton Lions 30 June 2024
Wanderer
1
TODAY
Squad for Sheffield
AdamH
1
TODAY
London Away
Fartown58
1
TODAY
The Bulls away
terry silver
9
TODAY
The official Leon Hayes Thread
Smiffy27
18
TODAY
Saints a
WWste
23
TODAY
Leon Ruan signs on loan
Jemmo
2
TODAY
Wardle
Jo Jumbuck
3
TODAY
Huddersfield - Home
Fartown58
6
TODAY
Max Wood on loan to Bradford 2 weeks
rubber ducki
7
TODAY
Jake Wardle 5 Year deal
Zig
22
TODAY
No grade A for 2025 for Trinity
PopTart
27
TODAY
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangements
RLFANS News
1
NEWS ITEMS
VIEWS
Another Tigers Defeat As Rhino..
147
Cup Quarter Final TV Arrangeme..
566
2024 Challenge Cup Quarter Fin..
688
Easy Does It For The Dragons A..
590
Warrington Demolish London For..
693
Leigh Leopards Beat Plucky Fea..
745
Saints Triumph Over Disappoint..
725
Easy Win for the Wolves Over L..
962
Dragons Condemn Castleford To ..
930
Leigh Leopards Secure First Po..
1077
St Helens Tame The Rhinos To W..
1047
Wigan Warriors Come From Behin..
1115
Betfred Championship and Leagu..
1090
2024 Challenge Cup Sixth Round..
3878
Featherstone Win Extra Time Cu..
1206
RLFANS Match Centre
Matches on TV
Table 'boards.stats_fixtures' doesn't exist