Match Centre: Women's Six Nations: England 58-7 Scotland
Sarah Hunter ended her England career with a victory
©PA
England 58-7 Scotland, Newcastle
Marlie Packer scored a hat-trick as England powered past Scotland 58-7 in the opening round of the TikTok's Six Nations in Newcastle on Saturday.
The game also saw England skipper Sarah Hunter playing for the last time as she announced her decision to retire in front of her home crowd. The 37-year-old played for 57 minutes in the encounter before receiving an emotional send-off in front of over 10,000 spectators.
England, who were favourites to win the game got off to a brisk start as Claudia McDonald touched down after receiving a pass from left to right and Amber Reed followed with the conversion.
The red rose team extended their lead further with Packer feeding the ball for Amy Cokayne to score in the right corner but Lagi Tuima missed the extras.
With no response from Scotland, England stepped up the ante as MacDonald completed her double before before Tatyana Heard and Cokayne added further tries to help England secure a bonus point and a 31-0 lead at the end of the opening half.
Simon Middleton's men extended their momentum into the second half as Poppy Cleal burrowed over and soon they got their seventh try with Sadia Kabeya powered past the line. With Tuima kicking the extras, England raced to a 43-0 lead.
The 57th minute saw Packer dotting down at the back of a powerful driving maul before she crossed in the right corner once more just after the hour mark. Sarah Beckett thought she scored her first try but was denied following a knock on.
With the momentum on her side, Packer completed her hat-trick in the 66th minute to extend England's tally to 58 points before Chloe Rollie scored a consolation try in the closing stage.
Team line up:
England: Dow; Breach, Tuima, Reed, MacDonald; Aitchison, Packer; Carson, Cokayne, Bern, Aldcroft, P Cleall, Kabeya, Packer (co-capt), Hunter (co-capt).
Reserves: Davies, Crake, Clifford, O'Donnell, Beckett, Wyrwas, Heard, Sing.
Scotland: Rollie; Grant, Orr, Smith, McGhie; Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, O'Donnell, McMillan, Malcolm, McLachlan, Gallagher.
Reserves: Rettie, Young, Clarke, Donaldson, Sinclair, McDonald, Blacklock, Musgrove.
