England Community Lions Women roar in Serbia
England Community Lions Women became the inaugural winners of the Flora Sandes Cup following a big 68-6 win over in Serbia, with two Warriors featuring in the victory.
England were relentless on the day, with three tries in the first 25 minutes seeing them in firm control of the tie with a 14-0 advantage.
Wigan’s Mia-Jayne Atherton was excellent on the attack and proved her worth as she ran in twice before half-time to see England in with a 30-0 scoreline.
The second half was equally consistent as Atherton turned provider for the first score of the second forty, breaking through the line to see Brown finish off the move.
Before long, England had built up a 52-0 lead and we cruising to a win, they added a further two scores in the late stages of the game.
Serbia bagged a deserved consolation when stand-off Jelena Stojlkovic scored a great individual try with Tamara Boshiak converting. England were denied a final score of the game but they were victorious in the 68-6 win.
Serbia: Tamara Boshiak, Teodora Micic, Nika Bajic, Zjizja Bajic, Ahja Lifter; Jelena Stojlkovic, Katarina Velandski, Jovana Fridl, Nataja Kovacevic, Teodora Marin, Sahja Starcevic, Natalia Simic, Mariaja Maslakovic.
Interchanges: Anastasija Karanovic, Dragana Zezeh, Marija Simovic
Tries: Sojlkovic (77′)
Goals: Boshiak 1/1.
England Community Lions Women: Faye Barraclough, Morgan Pearson, Claire Fisher, Tori Thomas, Sophie Henry; Nicky Gross, Sarah Palmer; Aaliyah Brewster, Agnes Wood, Arabella Reed, Mia-Jayne Atherton, Olivia Argent, Lisa Parker.
Interchanges: Carla Nolan, Tilly Davies, Chloe Wainwright Morley, Lois Brown, Sue Neumann, Nancy Hirst, Sophie Banks, Lauren Exley.
Tries: Barraclough (4′, 63′, 69′), Pearson (18′), Brown (24′, 42′), Atherton (28′, 36′), Gross (30′), Banks (49′), Wood (53′), Exley (60′), Nolan (73′).
Goals: Parker 0/1, Thomas 0/1, Hirst 0/1 Neumann 3/3, Wainwright Morley 5/7.
