Laura leads England to impressive victory

11:32am Thursday 29th March 2007

HEREFORD rugby player Laura Keates made an impressive start to her captaincy of England Women Under-19s who met the USA for the first time in an international at RAF Halton near Aylesbury.

Prop-forward Keates, who now plays for Worcester, led England to a comprehensive 31-7 win over their American counterparts.

Keates, who learned her rugby at Hereford Bishop's School, the Sixth Form College and the Hereford Greyhound club, led from the front and the victory provided a solid platform to work from before two back-to-back internationals against Canada next month.

England Under-19s programme manager Gary Street said after the game against USA: "I am delighted with this result. We enjoyed an excellent first-half especially. The US were a very committed and passionate side, but suffered through lack of experience."

He added: "England were well led by captain Laura Keates and all the girls should be proud of themselves. This is a promising start to the future for England's young players."

England next play Canada at RAF Halton on April 4 and on Easter Sunday, April 8.

Keates was an England under-19 tourist in Canada last year when she was in the squad which won one and lost one of their two games.

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