England secured a commanding 40-8 victory over Scotland in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Ashton Gate on Sunday, extending their winning streak to 31 matches. The hosts scored six tries in a dominant display, though they were tested by a spirited Scottish side in blustery conditions.
Kelsey Clifford crossed twice for England, while Morwenna Talling was named player of the match. The Red Roses led the territory battle 60-40 and enjoyed 97% possession in the final 10 minutes, underlining their control of the game. Captain Zoe Aldcroft praised her team's resilience, saying: 'We kept in the fight and kept pressure on Scotland. We're excited for the next week and preparing for France.'
Scotland, who fought throughout despite being outmatched, ended their campaign on an emotional high with a try from Rhona Lloyd in the closing stages. Head coach Bryan Easson, in his final match in charge, reflected on the tournament: 'We did what we wanted to do, reaching the knockout stages. This shouldn't be the end, it should be the start of something.'
The match was played in front of a sellout crowd of 25,295. England will now face France in the semi-final on Saturday, 3.30pm BST, while New Zealand take on Canada on Friday at 7pm BST. Both matches will be held in Bristol.
