Scotland vs England LIVE: Women’s Six Nations result, final score and reaction
Follow live updates from the first match in the 2022 Women’s Six Nations at DAM Health Stadium
A Marlie Packer hat-trick helped England begin their Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 57-5 thrashing of Scotland. Simon Middleton’s side extended their remarkable winning streak to 19 matches after a nine-try triumph over their rivals in Edinburgh. Playing in the shadows of Murrayfield, Packer got the ball rolling for England and they went on to comfortably secure a bonus-point victory to start their pursuit of another Grand Slam title.
It took nine minutes for the defending champions to go over for the first time through Packer and Emily Scarratt kicked the conversion on her Test return after a broken leg last year. Scarratt would play 58 minutes and finish with a 10-point haul after England went over six times in the opening half. Packer claimed a first-half double with Poppy Cleall, Heather Cowell, Abby Dow and Leanne Infante also touching down to make it 38-5 at the break. Holly Aitchison and Connie Powell added further tries after the restart before prop Packer secured a personal treble after some assistance from the TMO.
Scotland suffered a heavy loss to their old foes but the score only told half the story, with Chloe Rollie’s early try able to give the home crowd something to shout about while a knock-on denied Rachel McLachlan a further effort in an overall display that showed they can build on last season’s fifth-place finish. Follow all the reaction from this Women's Six Nations opener with our live blog below:
Scotland 5-57 England, 72 min
The scrum was reset and scotland eventually get it away. The ball is fizzed out wide to Lloyd who manages to keep the ball on the field, what a skill.
The ball comes back inside but Belisle spills it - it was a tricky pass for her to get. That was her last play as she comes off for Dougan.
This is awful for Scotland not to get something, especially as England had been warned about their penalty count.
Scotland 5-57 England, 70 min
They spill the ball but they come back for an earlier penalty advantage, they take it quickly.
Neville has warned England after yet another penalty at the breakdown. If there’s another they will get yellow card.
A Scotland scrum!
Scotland 5-57 England, 68 min
Scotland haven’t played badly in this match, despite what this scoreboard suggests. They have been clinical with ball in hand but they just haven’t had the power to get the ball over the line.
The kicking game comes into play and Scotland come off the better with a cracking 50:22! Scotland line-out and they launch an attack.
They deserve a score here.
TRY! Scotland 5-57 England (Packer, 66’)
It was hard to see a knock-on with the replays being crowded by players legs!
But Neville has given it with no clear knock-on, a hat-trick for Marlie Packer! What an achievement for her.
Rowland misses her kick.
Scotland 5-52 England, 66 min
Wow, wow, wow! Emma Sing has made a huge break as she runs half the pitch only to be brought down a few metres short.
Phases went through the hands and Marlie Packer looks like she has a hat-trick but the ref is looking at this.
Is there a knock-on?
TRY! Scotland 5-52 England (Powell, 50’)
Poweel hasn’t been on for more than 20 seconds and she is over from a driving maul!
Rowland on kicking duty as Scarratt is off and her first kick is successful.
Scotland 5-45 England, 63 min
A huge hit on Rowland from Campbell sees the England fly-half down on the floor. She did manage to get it away but Infante dropped it as he went to the line.
There’s an injury change for Scotland as Cockburn comes off for Bartlett.
England make tactical changes as Packer, Bern, Galligan and Davies are off for Infante, Powell, B Cleall and Beckett are on.
A hugely physical game seeing injuries so far!
Scotland 5-45 England, 60 min
England have used this time to make some changes as P Cleall and Scarratt come off for Matthews and Reed.
We are back underway and England start their attack quickly.
Neville has stopped play as a Scotland player is down.
Scotland 5-45 England, 59 min
A great tackle from Packer stops Scotland racing through a hole as the hosts and England manages to get it away.
The Red Roses race upfield through Galligan but Sing drops it and Scotland’s Rollie runs away with it. What an exchange!
England then get a penalty and there will be a break in play as Malcolm is down injured. She’ll be hoping this doesn’t mirror last year. She was injured in the England game and ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Scotland 5-45 England, 56 min
England have made another change with Kildunne coming for Emma Sing, who wins her first cap!
Smith has kicked to the corner to set Scotland up for an attack but England steal it in the line-out. Molly Wright is on for Lana Skeldon and misses her first line-out.
England clear their lines and Wright gets a good line-out to send Scotland on their way!
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