Six Nations victory over France for England's Poppy

FORMER Ellingham & Ringwood player Poppy Cleall starred in England Women’s Six Nations victory against France last Sunday.

The 26-year-old Saracens player, whose previous international appearances have been in the second row, was selected as flanker against France for her 25th England cap.

Poppy took the positional change in her stride, with a top individual performance and two tries in the Red Roses victory over Les Bleues at Castle Park in Doncaster.

Emphatic Six Nations win

All the pre-match talk predicted a tough match for England against the reigning Grand Slam champions, with the game billed as a potential Women’s Six Nations decider.

But Poppy’s England team were on top form and enjoyed an emphatic 41-26 win against the French to make it two bonus-point wins from two in the 2019 Women’s Six Nations.

In front of 4,674 fans in south Yorkshire, England took the lead after Katy Daley-Mclean’s cross-field kick was superbly taken in the air by Jess Breach to dot down.

Burgate’s Poppy scored England’s second try after hitting a short line and powering over. She then crossed for her second and the Red Roses fifth after strong forward work close to the line.

Cleall twins Cardiff bound

Poppy is joined in the England Women’s squad by her identical twin Bryony, who won her first international cap against Ireland earlier this month.

Next up for the Cleall sisters is a trip to Cardiff Arms Park to take on Wales Women on Sunday 24th February, KO 12.30pm. The game is live on Sky Sports.