England Women’s hooker Vicky Fleetwood scored a hat-trick as her side continued their perfect start to the 2017 Women’s Six Nations with a five-try 29-15 victory over Italy.
The home side recovered from an Italian try inside the first five minutes and secured the bonus point before the break.
Fleetwood completed her treble shortly after half-time, becoming the first English forward to achieve the feat in this history of the Women’s Six Nations.
Despite Italian skipper Sara Barattin and full-back Manuela Furlan responding for the visitors, England held off the Azzurre in the final quarter.
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Italy started the stronger and scrum-half Barattin found a gap around the fringes to burst down the left flank.
The Italians showed patience and impressive ball retention to manipulate an overlap and Furlan’s deft grubber popped up perfectly for Sofia Stefan to dot down in the corner.
England responded minutes later when powerful second row Harriet Millar-Mills beat four Italian defenders to gain good field position. The ball went through the hands and Kay Wilson strolled into the corner.
One quickly became two for England when more big carries from back row Alex Matthews put the visitors under pressure, this time winger Amy Wilson Hardy got the easy run in.
Italian second row Elisa Pillotti was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Wilson Hardy, England turned down the opportunity to go for goal electing to kick to the corner.
From the resulting lineout England’s well-organised maul proved too much for the Italians to handle and hooker Fleetwood burrowed over for her side’s third try.
Minutes later, she replicated her first try to secure England’s bonus point before the break.
Shortly after half-time, Fleetwood crossed for her third of the afternoon becoming the first English forward to score a hat-trick in a Women’s Six Nations match.
The Italian captain Barattin’s sheer persistence earned her side their second try after a chip and chase was fly-hacked ahead by Furlan and the scrum-half won the foot race.
Just moments later Katy McLean, on as a replacement after being rested, was sent off for a dangerous tackle on winger Stefan.
With England down to 13 players after Poppy Cleall was sent to the bin, Italian full-back Furlan, who had a hand in all of her team’s tries, dived over in the corner to set up a grandstand finish.
England held out for the victory and denied their Italian rivals both a try-scoring and a losing bonus point.
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