England romp past Brazil in their opener

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England Women v Brazil Women

England have kicked off their World Cup campaign in style with a 72-4 win against debutants Brazil in Leeds. 

They ran in fourteen tries in the one-sided affair. Amy Hardcastle and Courtney Winfield-Hill got hat-tricks while Tara Stanley got a double alongside kicking eight goals in the game but the moment of the game went to Natalia Momberg who got their first ever points. 

England started their World Cup opener with a fervor. The hosts were across the line in the first 60 seconds with Caitlin Beevers diving over on her home ground to make it 4-0. 

They went back to the right side for their second four-pointer. This time, it went to Tara Stanley who dummied past her defender and gave the crowd at Headingley the perfect start to the contest. 

The game had it's sloppy moments in the opening stages, but England once again clicked into gear with Courtney Winfield-Hill sliced through the Brazilian defence and beat the defender to the corner for 12-0. 

Brazil showed at points in the first half, they can trouble the English defence. They created a gap twice on the right side but Amanda Welter was taken over the sideline then another was held up over the line. 

Once again, Winfield-Hill was central to the point-scoring. She brushes through the defence again, again strolled to the try-line and brought it closer for Tara Stanley to convert her first of the afternoon. 

England finished the half with a flourish. Grace Field, Amy Hardcastle and Tara Stanley all crossed to give them a 34-0 advantage. Stanley showed off some slick footwork to pick up her second. 

Coming out of the break, England picked up where they left off. Francesca Goldthorp picked up the scraps to make it 40-0 then Hardcastle was the third England player to score a double with a clean run to the line. 

Brazil got their moment in the second half to score their first points. Patricia Oliveria showed some good slight of hand for an offload which sent Natalia Momberg in for the score at 44-4. 

That was a brief respite in the England point-scoring fest! Hooker Tara Jones scooted over from close range and winger Leah Bourke got her first four-pointer in England colours to add to the scoreline.

There were hat-tricks for both Hardcastle and Winfield-Hill as England past 60 points. Hardcastle just pushed through the line and scored then Winfield-Hill followed up well for her trifecta. 

England finished the game in style, Olivia Wood was another who got her first four-pointer for her national side when she sliced through the defence and Stanley kicked her eighth conversion for 72-4.