Army Women v Barbarians Women

Barbarians outflank Army in seven-try victory

Wings Elen Evans (Carnaerfon) and Sydney Gregson (Bristol) led the way as the Barbarians outflanked the Army to score seven tries at Aldershot.

The Wales and England fliers both touched down twice in the first half with the other tries coming from uncapped Saracens hooker Kat Evans, USA and Harlequins full back Jess Wooden and Wasps and Germany lock Nora Baltruweit. Ireland’s Nora Stapleton landed one conversion.

The Barbarians made light of the freezing conditions with a fluent display, attacking from everywhere against an Army side that managed to pin them back for several spells. And they had a stand-out performer in New Zealand sevens superstar Kayla McAlister – too hot to handle when Stapleton and Georgina Roberts gave her space to work in – while Spain flanker Isabel Rico Vazquez and captain Rachel Taylor also impressed.

Saracens hooker Evans opened the scoring from close range before McAlister created the openings for Elen Evans’s 50metre run to the line and Sydney Gregson’s dash down the right. The Baa-baas kept the ball alive through a mixture of cross-kicks and offloads before Stapleton put Gregson in for her second in the 20th minute.

There were two more before the break with Wooden touching down on the right and Elen Evans grabbing her second after Stapleton’s slick cut-out pass. It looked like the Barbarians would cut loose after the interval, particularly when Baltruweit powered over from close range in the 45th minute. But the Army dug in after that, their replacements all made an impact going into the final quarter and the Barbarians had Gillian Bourke sin-binned 10 minutes from time to prevent them from adding further scores.

Army Team:

Gnr Jess McAuley, LCpl Toni Lloyd, Cpl Jade Mullen, Cpl Maz Claassens, Capt Gemma Pearson; Cpl Lou Dodd, Cpl Bev Gilbert; Lt Fran Athawes, LCpl Rebecca Husk, Sgt Nat Lewis, L Cpl Ellie Gattlin (captain), LCpl Chelsey Snead, OCdt Sally Stott, LCpl Heidi Silcox, Capt Jade Binskin-Barnes.

Replacements: Pte Angie Carr, 2Lt Vicky Carbutt, Cpl Kerry McCormick, Sgt Laura Latimer, Capt Alex Hardy, 2Lt Charlotte Broome, Pte Charlie Morgan, LCpl Ellen Wood, Sgt Nancy Kuva.