Laura leads England to a clean sweep

12:20pm Thursday 12th April 2007

LAURA Keates completed her three-match debut as England Women Under-19s' captain with an emphatic 43-0 thumping of Canada Under-19s on Easter Sunday at RAF Halton, Aylesbury.

The win handed the England team a clean sheet this season after a 31-7 win over the USA last month and a 29-5 victory over Canada just seven days before the Easter clash.

Hereford girl Keates, who now plays for Worcester, led the England team from prop and their 100 per cent record was achieved in convincing style.

Ivel Barbarians' Marlie Packer was a hat-trick heroine, crossing for two tries in the first-half and a third after the restart.

Blaydon's Kate Hall also enjoyed a successful afternoon with a brace of tries while Worcester hooker Jenny Mills joined Packer and Hall on the scoresheet with her own touchdown. Saracens fly-half April Brown was as consistent as ever with the boot, kicking five conversions and a penalty.

England Under-19s head coach Giselle Mather said: "This is a really pleasing win and a good end to the three test series.

"The girls have been on a real journey over these past three games and they have all improved, not only as a team but as individuals which is visible for everyone to see.

"If these players keep up this work rate and keep playing to their potential then the future of women's rugby in England is in safe hands."

Another Hereford player, this time a male, Oli Frost, was named as a replacement for the England Under-18 side for their second match in the Six Nations Festival against Wales in Glasgow yesterday evening (Wednesday).

The Bromsgrove School and Worcester Warriors scrum-half was a late call-up to the squad who opened their campaign against Scotland on Easter Sunday. But he was not used in England's 15-6 victory.

England's final Festival game is against Ireland at Burnbrae, Glasgow, on Sunday.

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