Breach scores hat-trick in record England World Cup win

16 hours ago 2

Women's Rugby World Cup - Pool A

England (47) 92

Tries: Jones 2, Breach 3, Bern, Feaunati, Davies, Packer, Clifford, Carson, Rowland, Packer, MacDonald Cons: Rowland 11

Samoa (0) 3

Pens: Vatau

Jess Breach scored a hat-trick as England thrashed Samoa to register their record Women's Rugby World Cup win and close in on the quarter-finals.

The Red Roses' previous record World Cup winning margin was an 82-0 victory over Kazakhstan in 2010, with their highest number of points in a World Cup game (84) coming against Fiji in 2022.

Fly-half Helena Rowland scored 27 points to break the record for individual points scored in a Women's World Cup game, with her final kick from out wide surpassing Nicky Crawford's 25 points against Sweden in 1998.

The World Cup hosts grabbed seven first-half tries in Northampton, with centre Megan Jones crossing twice.

Sarah Bern, Maddie Feaunati, Lark Atkin-Davies and Lucy Packer also scored in a clinical and dominant opening half.

With England 47-0 up, the visitors, who are a fully amateur side, knocked over a penalty through Harmony Vatau, which was greeted by huge celebrations.

But John Mitchell's side clicked into gear to score another seven second-half tries.

The win extends the Red Roses' winning run to 29 games, with their last defeat coming in the World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022.

More to follow.

Line-ups

England: Sing; Breach, Jones, Shekells, Moloney-MacDonald; Rowland, Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Campion, Galligan, Burton, Packer (capt), Feaunati.

Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Muir, Talling, Kabeya, Hunt, Harrison, Kildunne.

Samoa: Wright-Akeli; Lasini, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Fiafia; Vatau, Afuie; Aiolupotea, Nonutunu, Aiono, C Onesemo-Tuilaepa, D Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Atonio, Pauaraisa, Foaese.

Replacements: Leuta, Tauasosi, Losefo, Sio, Jamie Iva, Leaula, Ah-Cheung.