WOMEN'S TEST MATCH

England centre Joanne Watmore scored a hat-trick of tries to help her team beat France at Lilleshall Sports Centre. First half tries from Jodie Cunningham, Michelle Greenwood and Gemma Walsh gave the home side a strong early advantage, but it was in the second half where England showed their class with three more tries.

Head coach Brenda Dobek was delighted with her England side: "We recovered quite a bit in the second half. We were below average in the first but we really upped the pace. We can take away a lot from today; there is still a lot to learn but can take a lot of postiives from the game today."

It took just two minutes for England to open their account. A French knock on just 10 metres out from their own line proved costly as England capitalised, through centre Cunningham. Two minutes later, France squandered their first opportunity, Janvier knocking on to halt their momentum. From the re-start, scrum half Kirsty Moroney's kick-and-regather created space for winger Greenwood who slid in to score in the left hand corner. Gilmour added the extras again for a 12-0 lead.

France regrouped well and on 17 minutes were rewarded with a well worked team try through centre Laurianne Guigue. Walsh replied on the half hour mark but France kept themselves in the game with the last try of the half, through Janvier, heading into the sheds down by just 16-8.

The visitors needed to score first but six minutes after the restart England was up 20-8 as Watmore notched her first four-pointer. Injuries then began to take their toll, and with the departure of playmaker Sonia Zaghdoudi went France's fading hopes of a come back. England took full advantage, with Watmore adding two quick-fire tries.

ENGLAND WOMEN
Lindsey Anfield, Michelle Greenwood, Joanne Watmore, Jodie Cunningham, Rachael Twibil, Gemma Walsh, Kirsty Moroney, Emma Slowe, Lois Forsel, Amanda Donaldson, Clare Robinson, Beth Sutcliffe, Natalie Gilmour. Subs: Isobel Howard, Holly Freestone, Danielle Bose, Danielle Titterington

FRANCE FEMENIN
Ludivine Miorin, Sonia Bernchougi, Laurianne Guigue, Rachel Cousseau, Marine Janvier, Jayne-Marie Bentley, Sonia Zaghdoudi, Nabila Zaghdoudi, Elise Labrunie, Audreu Pene, Maud Signoret, Delphine lacoste, Virginie Calvo. Subs: Jennifer Boukhelil, Safi N'Diaye, Mira M'Raidi, Marine Gonzalez