A Club-record six York Valkyrie players played starring roles for England Women as they beat France 64-0 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
Valkyrie stars Tara Jane Stanley, Tamzin Renouf, Liv Wood, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Sinead Peach and Grace Field all stood as six York players featured in an England line-up for the first time.
Dodd scored two second-half tries, while Renouf, Stanley and Peach also crossing the whitewash. Stanley added eight goals from 12 attempts as Valkyrie players contributed 36 of England’s 64 points.
Reigning Woman of Steel Stanley got England off to the perfect start, her kick-off forcing an error and a drop-out from which Georgia Roche sent Leah Burke over for her first of four tries.
A second Burke try followed on 10 minutes when Stanley put her across the whitewash from a scrum play.
Shona Hoyle added a third score with a fine solo run before Renouf benefitted from a right-side overlap, scoring on her first England appearance since 2019.
Renouf then added an assist to her name, providing the telling pass for Eboni Partington in the right corner.
Stanley wrapped up the first-half scoring by cutting through a gap down the right, leaving the scores at 30-0 at the break.
The Valkyrie’s stars continued to stand out in the second half, with Dodd driving through France’s goal-line defence from Peach’s pass at close range. Stanley’s cross-field kick then gave Burke her hat-trick.
Dodd then completed her double after breaking the line from 40m out when taking Field’s pass before stepping her way past the last defender to go under the sticks.
Like Renouf, Peach claimed a try on her first England appearance since 2019, showcasing her trademark dart out of dummy-half.
In the final minutes, Burke rounded off her quadruple before Amy Hardcastle went in for England’s 12th and final try.
York Valkyrie continue their Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Group Four campaign on Sunday 7th May (12pm) against Hull KR at the LNER Community Stadium as part of a double header, with York Knights facing London Broncos later that afternoon (3pm) in the Betfred Championship.
Tickets for the double header are priced at £20 for Adults, £15 for Concessions (17-21-year-olds and over-65s) and FREE for Under-16s.
General admission tickets can be purchased HERE.
For Hospitality tickets, please email info@yorkrlfc.com.
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