Four-try Moloney-MacDonald helps England beat USA 55-12

England beat the United States 55-12 in New Jersey to end a run of two defeats against Canada and return to winning ways in their final match of the WXV Global Series.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four tries, including two in the opening 12 minutes, as the Red Roses pulled clear after a more closely contested first half. England led 17-7 at the break, with Meg Jones also scoring before half-time.

The hosts had made England work for the result. Hope Rogers scored a close-range try, and the USA had more possession, territory and metres gained at the interval, according to BBC Sport. Moloney-MacDonald’s two tries soon after the restart helped put the result beyond doubt.

England added tries through Ella Venner, Jess Breach, Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford and Alex Matthews, with Emma Sing and Zoe Harrison sharing the conversions. Kate Zackary scored the USA’s second try with the final play of the match.

The victory followed two defeats to Canada, including a 31-22 loss in Ottawa that completed a 2-0 series defeat. England’s performance against the USA offered a response, but the match report noted that set-piece solidity and attacking fluency remained areas for coach John Mitchell to address before the team’s Women’s Six Nations title defence in April.