By David Williams
Wales head coach Tom Brindle insisted he was proud of his team despite Wales’ 60-0 defeat to England in a women’s rugby league international at Headingley.
Two tries apiece from Amy Hardcastle and Tara-Jane Stanley set England on their way as they scored 11 tries in a ruthless victory at the weekend.
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Brindle said: “We knew the size and scale of the challenge that we were coming up against in England but I am massively proud of our girls.
“For large periods of that, we competed. It will be good for us to learn from that.
“Some of our execution should have been better. We were getting to the right places so hopefully they are easier fixes.”
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England coach Stuart Barrow admitted: “We were disappointed with the first half.
“We had things to fix at half-time but the girls responded really well to what we told them and looked more like we wanted to at the start.
“Wales really brought it to us and challenged us and our scrambled defence showed our commitment to each other so I was pleased with the effort and application of that. We just had to fix a few things for the second half.”
Centre Hardcastle opened England’s account with two tries before further scores from Shona Hoyle and Caitlin Beevers seemingly put England out of sight at the half-time break.
A double header of rugby league featuring England, 2 wins. Full Time @England_RL Women 60-0 @WalesRugbyL Women, the second half match pics from the Women’s Test Match against Wales Women. pic.twitter.com/SopuPH0Euf
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Although tested by Wales at times during the first 40 minutes, Stuart Barrow’s side showed no mercy in the second period, rushing over the whitewash seven more times courtesy of full-back Stanley’s double alongside contributions from Lacey Owen, Georgia Roche, Tamzin Renouf, Keara Bennett and Emily Rudge.
Hardcastle put England in front in the eighth minute, with Stanley kicking the first of seven successful conversions, and the Leeds Rhinos player had her second in the 17th minute as she was set up by Georgia Roche following a scrum.
Prop Hoyle went over under the posts after taking an offload from England captain Jodie Cunningham seven minutes later, but Molyneux’s sin-binning for a high tackle in the 32nd minute saw Wales exert some pressure on England’s line.
A double header of rugby league featuring England, 2 wins. Full Time @England_RL Women 60-0 @WalesRugbyL Women, the first half match pics from the Women’s Test Match against Wales Women. pic.twitter.com/upWNxGHNvJ
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Nevertheless, Beevers finished following an 80-metre break from Hardcastle just before half-time, with Stanley getting her first two minutes into the second half thanks to some fancy footwork which saw her open the Wales defence.
She then set up York Valkyrie clubmate and debutant Owen for her first England try, and went on to get a second as England eased home in the second half, with Roche, Renouf, Bennett and Rudge all crossing to seal a convincing win.
On the contribution of the retiring Vicky Molyneux, Barrow added: “She has been exceptional to the badge all the way through.
“All you want to do is leave the shirt in a better place and she has done that. The group will miss her but the youngsters she has played against will come through.”
🏴🏴 A milestone reached by Jodie Cunningham and an international retirement announcement as England's women sweep aside Wales…
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