A 17-12 victory over Spain in the play-offs saw a young England Women’s side finish fifth in the Amsterdam Sevens on Sunday.

With only six players in the squad who lifted the IRB Challenge Cup crown in London last weekend, England struggled in the second day of sevens action leaving them to play off against Spain for fifth place.

England, however, showed great determination to secure the fifth place finish against a full strength Spanish side with a try in extra time from Sevens newcomer Kate Hancock. Fellow Sevens debutant Natasha Brennan also touched down twice, with Natasha Hunt kicking one conversion.

England were left battling for fifth place after losing 7-12 to the USA in the final pool game on Saturday. England had started the day well with a 24-0 victory over Wales. Lichfield’s Hunt ran in a hat-trick of tries and Jennifer Brightmore also touched down. Sarah McKenna added four points from the boot.

In England’s second match they were as dominant, inflicting a 26-0 victory over South Africa. This time Brennan, Rachael Burford, captain Sonia Green and Abigail Chamberlain touched down. Alice Richardson and Hunt added three conversions.

But in their final encounter on Saturday the young England side struggled against the on-form Eagles. Brennan touched down for her second try of the tournament and Richardson converted but two tries from the USA and a conversion was too much for England to overcome.

The first day’s results meant England faced a tough second pool round on Sunday pitting them against hosts Netherlands, London finalists last weekend, and then IRB Challenge Cup winner in Dubai Canada.

England couldn’t break the Netherlands this time around and instead the hosts ran in three tries and England had no reply.

Next up was Canada, and England picked up the pace to hold the full strength Canadian side to a 12-12 draw, with Burford and McKenna scoring. McKenna also added one conversion, but the draw was not enough to keep England in contention and they had to settle for the fifth/sixth play-off final.

England Women’s Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks (pictured) said: “We are obviously disappointed to finish fifth but at the same time this has been a tremendous learning experience for our young squad.

“The likes of Natasha Brennan, Kate Hancock, Emily Scott, Leanne Riley and Katie Mason have been exposed to top level international sevens rugby over the last two days, playing against some of the world’s best players in Canada and the USA, and that is only going to benefit their game in the long run.

“It was disappointing that we suffered such a heavy defeat this morning against the Netherlands. It was a game we struggled to get up for, but we bounced back against Canada and held them to a draw. We can also take a lot of positives from our final game against Spain.”

Amsterdam Sevens Day 1 Results

England  24 Wales 0

Tries: Hunt (3), Brightmore

Conversions: McKenna (2)

England 26 South Africa 0

Tries: Brennan, Burford, Green, Chamberlain

Conversions: Richardson (2), Hunt

England  7 USA 12

Tries: Brennan

Conversions: Richardson

Amsterdam Sevens Day 2 Results

England 0 Netherlands 17

England 12 Canada 12

Tries: Burford, McKenna

Conversions: McKenna

England 17 Spain 12

Tries: Brennan (2), Hancock

Conversions: Hunt

England Sevens Squad  

Abigail            Chamberlain(Richmond)

Natasha         Brennan        (Wasps)

Jennifer         Brightmore    (Worcester)

Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

Sonia             Green (C)      (Saracens)

Kate    Hancock        (Plymouth Albion (on loan to Worcester))

Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

Katie   Mason            (Bristol)

SarahMcKenna       (Wasps)

Alice   Richardson   (Richmond)

Leanne          Riley   (Saracens)

Emily  Scott   (Thurrock)

A 7-12 defeat to the USA in the final pool game of the day saw England finish fourth in the standings on day one, pitting them against IRB Challenge Cup Sevens London finalists the Netherlands and Dubai winners Canada on Sunday in the final pool stages.

England, fielding only six players who lifted the IRB Challenge Cup London title last weekend, started the day well with a 24-0 victory over Wales. Lichfield’s Natasha Hunt ran in a hat-trick of tries and Jennifer Brightmore also touched down. Sarah McKenna added four points from the boot.

In England’s second match they were as dominant, inflicting a 26-0 victory over South Africa. This time Natasha Brennan, Rachael Burford, captain Sonia Green and Abigail Chamberlain touched down. Alice Richardson and Hunt added three conversions.

But in their final encounter the young England side struggled against the on-form Eagles. Brennan touched down for her second try of the tournament and Richardson converted but two tries from the USA and a conversion was too much for England to overcome.

England Women Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: “Obviously we are disappointed to drop a game and we now have a tough morning ahead of us with games against the Netherlands and Canada who we know are very good sides.

“Basic errors let us down, at times we just didn’t perform and against the USA we were turned over more than we should have been. To be fair to the USA they deserved to win on the day.

“For us we have got a lot of hard work to do if we are to qualify for the final, but days like this are an important learning experience especially for a young squad like this. However, we will be very much up for this tomorrow. The players will definitely be giving it everything they have.”

Amsterdam Sevens Day 1 Results

England  24 Wales 0

Tries: Hunt (3), Brightmore

Conversions: McKenna (2)

England 26 South Africa 0

Tries: Brennan, Burford, Green, Chamberlain

Conversions: Richardson (2), Hunt

England  7 USA 12

Tries: Brennan

Conversions: Richardson

England Sevens Squad  

Abigail            Chamberlain(Richmond)

Natasha         Brennan        (Wasps)

Jennifer         Brightmore    (Worcester)

Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

Sonia             Green (C)      (Saracens)

Kate    Hancock        (Plymouth Albion (on loan to Worcester))

Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

Katie   Mason            (Bristol)

SarahMcKenna       (Wasps)

Alice   Richardson   (Richmond)

Leanne          Riley   (Saracens)

Emily  Scott   (Thurrock)

The 21-year old has been a huge success for the Ospreys this season, scoring eight tries in 24 appearances, including the RaboDirect PRO12 Try of the Season against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in February.

Dirksen commented:

“I’m very happy. The Ospreys are the best team in Wales and I’m really happy to be a part of the organisation. I feel at home here, everybody has made very welcome and this is my region so I’m happy that I can continue playing for the Ospreys.

“I’ve been given some chances this season and I think I’ve taken them the best I can. It’s great to be playing and training with top class players, Wales internationals and Lions, it’s been an absolutely amazing year for me. It’s nice to be in a squad with so many top class players that I can learn off.

“I’m really excited about the way the team is developing, we seem to be growing every day, every week. It’s good to be finishing off the season with a final, we have worked hard to get there and now we have to make sure we don’t let anybody down.”
Head Coach, Steve Tandy, added:

“Hanno has enjoyed a great season and has really shown what a talent he is. It’s great that we can call on his services for another two seasons. If he continues to work hard and shows the attitude and desire to improve his all round game that we’ve seen from him since he joined the group, he could have a very bright future with the Ospreys.”

Hailing from Krugersdorp in the Gauteng province of South Africa, he moved to the USA with his family in 2006 while still a teenager. Having represented the USA at age grade level, Dirksen became the youngest player to represent the Eagles at senior level when he featured in the non-capped match against Munster in Connecticut in August 2008.

He arrived in the UK to study at Truro College on a scholarship for the 2008/09 academic year before transferring his studies to Neath Port Talbot College in September 2009. He signed for Swansea shortly after, ending the campaign as top try-scorer as he touched down 21 times in just 22 games, claiming the Young Player of the Year award and putting pen to paper on a regional contract in January 2011.

England Women’s Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks has called up Sarah McKenna (pictured right) and Kate Hancock to the England squad to compete in the Amsterdam Sevens this weekend.

Wasps’ McKenna was part of the squad that lifted the IRB Challenge Cup Sevens at Twickenham Stadium last weekend, while Kate Hancock is a newcomer to the squad. Hancock has progressed through the RFUW Regional Programme and the RFUW Sevens Development Squad.

McKenna and Hancock replace Heather Fisher and Kay Wilson who both picked up injuries at the weekend.

Saracens’ Sonia Green will captain the side, taking over the captaincy armband from Wasps’ Michaela Staniford who is being rested for this tournament.

Also new to the England squad are Wasps’ Natasha Brennan and Bristol’s Katie Mason. The duo join a line-up mixed with experience and youth. The likes of Jenny Brightmore and Emily Scott will also be looking to build on their experiences with England in Dubai.

12 international teams will compete for the coveted Amsterdam Sevens crown and England will face the USA, South Africa and Wales in Pool A. Pool B pits Canada, Spain, France and newcomers Ireland against each other, with the final pool seeing the hosts take on Australia, Germany and Scotland.

Maddocks said: “It is obviously frustrating for both Heather and Kay that they have been ruled out through injury, but in Sarah and Kate we have two exciting young players. Sarah put in another good performance at Twickenham at the weekend while Kate has proved herself in the RFUW Sevens Development Squad and also impressed at the recent RFUW Open Sevens Trials. This is a very different looking squad to the team that won in London, but it is important that we use our wide pool of players and develop our squad as much as possible ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens next year.”

England Sevens Squad  

Abigail            Chamberlain(Richmond)

Natasha         Brennan        (Wasps)

Jennifer         Brightmore    (Worcester)

Rachael         Burford           (Richmond)

Sonia             Green (C)      (Saracens)

Kate    Hancock        (Plymouth Albion (on loan to Worcester))

Natasha         Hunt   (Lichfield)

Katie   Mason            (Bristol)

SarahMcKenna       (Wasps)

Alice   Richardson   (Richmond)

Leanne          Riley   (Saracens)

Emily  Scott   (Thurrock)

Norton scored a record 36thtry of the season as England saw off France 28-0 in the opening game of the Marriott London Sevens.

Former Bristol and Gloucester wing Norton has now scored more times in a sevens campaign than any other England player in the 13-year history of the HSBC Sevens World Series, overtaking Rob Thirlby (35) in a list that includes the likes of Ugo Monye and David Strettle.

England’s other scores came from Sam Edgerley, who picked up to two tries – and a yellow card during the second half – with Tom Mitchell touching down once and kicking four conversions.

England stuttered early on against France with a number of unforced errors but Edgerley broke from long range, Mitchell exploited some good defensive work that turned over the ball and Edgerley again reacted fastest to snatch the ball and race in from inside his own half to put England 21-0 clear at the interval.

The half back was sent to the sin-bin mid-way through the second half, though, but England did well with only six on the field with James Rodwell covering the ground with ball in hand before Turner twisted and turned the French and before putting Norton away.

Former Gloucester and Bristol wing Norton took his total to 37 this term, more than any Englishman has scored in a single season of on the world series, overtaking Rob Thirlby’s tally of 35 in 2003-04.

Sam Edgerley (2) and Tom Mitchell added tries for England against France with Mitchell converting all four.

Edgerley and Mitchell were also on target against the USA, who briefly threatened when Rocco Mauer levelled the game.

Dan Fish got the consolation try against Spain having scored the clincher against Zimbabwe when Richard Smith and Rhys Jones also scored.

England had stuttered during both their opening games with a high error count but they were untroubled once Edgerley – a Latin and Greek student at University College London – raced in from long range.

Mitchell exploited some good defensive work that won a turn-over for the second try and Edgerley again reacted fastest to snatch the ball and race in from inside his own half to put England 21-0 clear at the interval.

The half back was sent to the sin-bin mid-way through the second half, though, but England did well with only six on the field before Mat Turner put Norton away.

England were more composed against the USA, a patient passage of build-up play culminating in Mitchell’s opening try.

Mauer levelled but Edgerley then took advantage of some ball-winning work from Chris Cracknell to dart over, then more thoughtful build-up play allowed Norton to stroll over for this season’s try No.37.

Quarter final England v Fiji

England were edged out of a quarter final thriller 21-14 by Fiji after succumbing to an injury time score on the second morning of the Marriott London Sevens.

World Player of the Year nominee Mat Turner’s two tries had put England on the front foot and they were pushing for the winning score until they were penalised at the breakdown. Fiji then went the length of the field for Jamilai Naikadawa to clinch victory.

The result puts Fiji into the semi finals against New Zealand, who clinched a 10^thHSBC Sevens World Series title when they thumped South Africa 36-0. Argentina meet Samoa in the other half of the draw.

Third-placed England now take on South Africa in the semi finals of the Plate competition.

On day one, England had beaten France 28-0 and the USA 15-5 before a 14-7 defeat against Samoa halted their progress.

Against Fiji – who will finish the series in second place – England produced their most incisive attacking work of the weekend.

They trailed to Setefano Cakau’s early try but a composed build-up with good work from Sam Edgerley and Chris Cracknell put Turner away with Tom Mitchell converting.

They hit the front in the second half with Dan Norton involved on the left before Turner was put away down the middle for a 14-7 lead.

Fiji levelled two minutes from time through Isake Katonibau but England dominated the closing moments with Turner and Rob Vickerman bursting into the Fiji 22 before the Islanders got out of jail.

Plate semi England v South Africa

Mat Turner’s try edged England past South Africa 19-17 and into a Plate final against Australia on day two of the Marriott London Sevens.

The World Sevens Player of the Year nominee also struck twice in the 21-14 cup quarter final defeat against Fiji settled when Jamilai Naikadawa struck in the final move of the match.

Tom Powell and Sam Edgerley then got the scoreboard moving against the Blitzbokke only to England to find themselves trailing 17-12 in the final moments and pinned on their own line.

But Edgerley twisted his way out of trouble and Turner shrugged off a tackle before accelerating 70 metres to the line with Mitchell’s conversion completing the escape act.

The result sent England into the Plate final against Australia, who held off Spain 17-12.

Earlier New Zealand duly clinched their 10^thHSBC Sevens World Series title by beating South Africa 36-0.

Tournament roundup

England finished the HSBC Sevens World Series in third place overall after being beaten 14-12 in the Marriott London Sevens Plate final by Australia.

Mat Turner’s fifth try of the weekend meant he finished as the series leader with 38 in the campaign from the nine events – one ahead of teammate Dan Norton – and debutant Jeff Williams struck in the second half but Dan Bibby missed with a late penalty shot at goal as Australia hung on the lead earned by tries from captain Ed Jenkins and Ed Stubbs.

New Zealand wrapped up a 10thseries title for coach Gordon Tietjens by reaching the semi finals, where they were beaten by Fiji, who lifted the London title with a 38-15 win over Samoa and claimed second place in the overall rankings.

They were cheered home by a day two crowd of 42,977, taking the total attendance to a record series high of 103,027 for the weekend.

Earlier Fiji had edged out England of the cup 21-14 at the quarter final stage with a last-play try from Jimilai Nakadawa. England then staged their own great escape act when World Player of the Year nominee Turner clinched a 19-17 win over South Africa in the Plate semi final.

Overall they didn’t hit the heights they reached in winning Dubai in December or in reaching the Glasgow final last weekend, but head coach Ben Ryan was upbeat about their progress.

“We gave Fiji their sternest test and were one ruck under their posts from reaching the semi final, so things could have been a little bit different, but that’s the way sevens goes,” said Ryan, whose sport assumes Olympic status after the end of the London 2012 Games

“We’re proud of our efforts over the last 12 months and I’m really enthusiastic about the potential in the side. We’ll stay together as a group and I’m sure we’ll improve.”

Wales beat Scotland 27-5 to win the third tier Bowl competition with tries from Richard Smith, Alex Walker, Dan Fish and Rhys Patchel. Andrew Turnbull replied.

After their shock 22-7 defeat against Spain on the opening day, Wales beat the USA 28-19 and Fish’s late try grabbed a 28-26 win over Portugal. Scotland cruised past Kenya 21-5 and Zimbabwe 31-19.

England’s secured a second IRB Women’s Challenge Cup win of the season by beating the Netherlands 34-7 with a hat trick of tries from Joanne Watmore, two from Katherine Merchant and one from Alice Richardson.

World Player of the Year nominee Mat Turner’s two tries had put England on the front foot and they were pushing for the winning score until they were penalised at the breakdown. Fiji then went the length of the field for Jamilai Naikadawa to clinch victory.

The result puts Fiji into the semi finals against New Zealand, who clinched a 10thHSBC Sevens World Series title when they thumped South Africa 36-0. Argentina meet Samoa in the other half of the draw.

Third-placed England now take on South Africa in the semi finals of the Plate competition.

On day one, England had beaten France 28-0 and the USA 15-5 before a 14-7 defeat against Samoa halted their progress.

Against Fiji – who will finish the series in second place – England produced their most incisive attacking work of the weekend.

They trailed to Setefano Cakau’s early try but a composed build-up with good work from Sam Edgerley and Chris Cracknell put Turner away with Tom Mitchell converting.

They hit the front in the second half with Dan Norton involved on the left before Turner was put away down the middle for a 14-7 lead.

Fiji levelled two minutes from time through Isake Katonibau but England dominated the closing moments with Turner and Rob Vickerman bursting into the Fiji 22 before the Islanders got out of jail.

Elsewhere Wales recovered from yesterday’s shock defeat at the hands of Spain to beat the USA 28-19 with Richard Smith, Adam Thomas, Craig Price and Alex Walker all scoring.

Scotland logged a 21-5 win over Kenya with tries from Michael Fedo, Bryon McGuigan and Andrew Skeen. Both teams advance to the Bowl semi finals against Portugal and Zimbabwe respectively.

PREMIERSHIP RUGBY COACHES VISIT THE U.S.A. TO PROMOTE & DEVELOP RUGBY

Premiership Rugby is travelling to the United States of America at the end of May to play a key role in the development and promotion of rugby in the country.

12 coaches, one from each of the Premiership Rugby clubs, will be travelling to New York along with four members of Premiership Rugby’s Community Team to help promote the game.  The visit follows Premiership Rugby’s successful trip to Brazil in March to help in the development of rugby in South America.

The core values of rugby will be used by coaches in their work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in New York to help improve self-esteem, community cohesion and other social outcomes.

The visit will run from 28th May to 2nd June and involves the following Premiership Rugby coaches:  Caryl Thomas from Bath Rugby, Marc Dibble from Exeter Chiefs, David Barley from Gloucester Rugby, Thomas Williams from Harlequins, Christophe Ridley from Leicester Tigers, Michael Crump from London Irish, Ian Isham from London Wasps, Gavin Beasley from Newcastle Falcons, Benjamin Mann from Northampton Saints, Richard Spencer from Sale Sharks, Max Malkin from Saracens and Tamara Taylor from Worcester Warriors, alongside Wayne Morris, Sophie Hartley, Helen Clayton and Scott Watson from Premiership Rugby’s Community Department.  

On Thursday 31st May Premiership Rugby coaches will help launch the Great Campaign Sports Festival, a touch tournament in Central Park, and then will be attending an end-of-season awards event in Harlem with youngsters’ friends and family.

On Friday 1st June, the Public School Athletics League High School Rugby 7s Final will be taking place in New York.  During the week leading up to the Final and for the Final itself, two Premiership Rugby coaches and one Play Rugby USA coach will be assigned to mentor each school.

On Saturday 2nd June, Premiership Rugby will be running fan engagement fitness testing sessions in the fans village at the 2012 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia, where the Aviva Premiership Rugby trophy will also be on display.

Premiership Rugby’s Community Department has developed a number of ground-breaking initiatives including the Aviva Premiership Rugby Schools Programme, the award winning MBNA Tackling Numbers project and the award winning and innovative social inclusion programme Hitz, as well as the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Cup, and ESPN Premiership Rugby Masterclasses.

Wayne Morris, Head of Community at Premiership Rugby, said “Each season Premiership Rugby and its clubs invest more than £3 million in a variety of community programmes which aim to grow grassroots participation and tackle core social issues.  In the last year alone, Premiership Rugby clubs delivered 150,000 man-hours of community programming to more than 240,000 participants. Premiership Rugby also provides 600 professional players, each a strong role model within their communities, who are involved in supporting the schemes.  Our programmes prove that we are a world leader when it comes to our community initiatives, and I’m delighted we have been given the chance to come to the USA to help promote and grow the game.”

Mark Griffin, President of Play Rugby USA (PRUSA), said: “Play Rugby USA is one of the foremost Rugby-based youth development programs in the world. The PRUSA Academy aspires to be the pinnacle of PRUSA’s player development efforts for aspiring and talented young athletes. Partnering with Premiership Rugby and the world’s most competitive domestic rugby competition not only provides a strong endorsement of our Academy’s efforts but more importantly an opportunity for our players and coaches to develop with the support of a World Class partner.”

Dan Lyle, Executive Vice President of USA Sevens Rugby and a former Premiership Rugby player, said: “At the USA Collegiate Rugby Championship Finals we marry up development and aspirational opportunities for players and coaches.  Premiership Rugby runs the top club competition globally and the partnership continues our efforts of partnering with World Class groups.”

The England Women’s squad to compete in the Amsterdam Sevens on May 19 & 20 has been announced.

Saracens’ Sonia Green will captain the side who head to Holland straight after this weekend’s IRB Women’s Challenge Cup at the Marriott London Sevens. Green takes over the captaincy armband from Wasps’ Michaela Staniford who is being rested for this tournament.

Also new to the England squad are Wasps’ Natasha Brennan and Bristol’s Katie Mason. The duo join a line-up mixed with experience and youth. The likes of Jenny Brightmore and Emily Scott will be looking to build on their experiences with England in Dubai while Heather Fisher, Alice Richardson and Rachael Burford are amongst the more senior players.

12 international teams will compete for the coveted Amsterdam Sevens crown and England will face the USA, South Africa and Wales in Pool A. Pool B pits Canada, Spain, France and newcomers Ireland against each other, with the final pool seeing the hosts take on Australia, Germany and Scotland.

England Women’s Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: “We have mixed up our sevens squad for this tournament. It is important that we give as many of our players a chance to develop at this level and that is what we are doing for the Amsterdam Sevens. It will be an important experience for our less experienced players to taste international rugby at this level and the pressure it brings.

“This will be a tough pool with the USA, South Africa and Wales all in the mix. Wales will certainly be looking to put in a good performance ahead of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifying tournament later this year, while the USA have been regulars in the knock out stages of the IRB Women’s Challenge Cup tournaments and South Africa have also pushed us close in recent games.”

England Sevens Squad

• Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond)
• Natasha Brennan (Wasps)
• Jennifer Brightmore (Worcester)
• Rachael Burford (Richmond)
• Heather Fisher (Worcester)
• Sonia Green (C) (Saracens)
• Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
• Katie Mason (Bristol)
• Alice Richardson (Richmond)
• Leanne Riley (Saracens)
• Emily Scott (Thurrock)
• Kay Wilson (Bristol)

The former Bristol wing faces competition from two New Zealanders – half back Tomasi Cama and wing Frank Halai – for the accolade, which will be presented after the ninth and final leg of this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series at Twickenham next weekend.

Turner, 24, has enjoyed a spectacular season playing at centre of half back, scoring eight tries in six games at last weekend’s Glasgow Sevens, where England were beaten 29-14 in the final by New Zealand.

One of 12 full-time contracted sevens players on England’s books, he has scored 33 tries this season – only two less than teammate Dan Norton, who leads the series try table going into the Marriott London Sevens.

England have provided two of the previous winners of the IRB award, Simon Amor scooping the prize in 2004 and Ollie Phillips in 2009. Cecil Afrika (South Africa) picked up last season’s honours.

Turner said: “It’s a real honour to be nominated and to be held in that regard by your peers. My form’s been good this season but I get put in the position to score the tries and it’s a team effort. I’ve just found myself in the right place at the right time – so I can’t complain about that!”

In the draw for the Marriott London Sevens, England will compete in Pool B against the USA, France and Samoa on day one.

Leading try-scorers Dan Norton and Mathew Turner both touched down for England but they conceded four against the 2010 HSBC Sevens World Series champions.

England had begun the day with a 26-7 win over the USA and the Samoa result leaves them needing a win from their final Pool A match against Argentina (17.54 GMT) to make certain a quarter final place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Paul Perez and Afa Aiaono struck in the first half for Samoa, who had beaten England at the Gold Coast Sevens a fortnight earlier, before Turner sprinted down the right to score with Marcus Watson converting.

Conceding possession and missing a tackle immediately after the interval let Aiaono in for a second try before Norton then struck from long-range to give England a chance at 19-14 down.

But they were hit by another Samoa try from a scrum on their own 22 with Faalemiga Selesele finishing things off.

Earlier England had opened their account against the USA with tries from James Rodwell, Watson, Turner and substitute Nick Royle, Watson adding three conversions.

Rodwell opened the scoring following Isoa Damudamu’s assist then Zach Test responded to level for the Eagles and England were forced to defend for long spells before the break.

In the second half they increased the pressure and tempo, Damudamu forcing the error that gifted Watson a second score before Turner struck following his own neat chip down the right touchline.

Substitute wing Royle picked off an interception for England’s fourth try to complete the victory.