Summary

  • England maintain unbeaten run with five-try victory

  • Captain Sarah Hunter scores first try from fourth-minute scrum

  • Prolific wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach also score in first half

  • Vicky Fleetwood grabs bonus-point fourth try before half-time

  • Sarah McKenna extended England's lead in second half

  • England bidding for back-to-back Grand Slams

  • Match at sold-out Castle Park in Doncaster

  1. 'A great finish from the forwards'published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 22-0 Ireland

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    What a great finish from the England forwards there. Vicky Fleetwood is such a fast, strong player, she's changed from hooker to flanker and she's done really well. One of the fastest in the England squad, as well.

  2. Half-timepublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 22-0 Ireland

    England in control at the break in Doncaster.

  3. try

    Try - England 22-0 Irelandpublished at 40 mins

    Vicky Fleetwood (40 mins)

    England do get a fourth try and a bonus point before half-time.

    The hosts kick to the corner and execute the line-out perfectly from close range, overpowering Ireland as they roll towards the chalk and allowing Vicky Fleetwood to dot down.

  4. Postpublished at 39 mins

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Quick tap from Leanne Riley as England begin to motor into the Ireland half.

    They get bodies backing up the maul and Sarah Hunter thinks she's bundled over for her second try of the afternoon, but there's a green splattering of bodies beneath her.

  5. 'England have such a mobile pack'published at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Poppy Cleall is a bowling ball, a great ball-carrier, big defender, and it's good to see her in such good form in the Six Nations, and her second-row partner Zoe Aldcroft. England have got such a mobile pack, they can get anywhere.

    The pack are really firing on all cylinders. Against France they were really up against it, but they seem to have sorted the scrum out now and they've really asserted themselves in the last couple of games.

  6. Postpublished at 36 mins

    England 17-0 Ireland

    England are pinged for the second time at an attacking line-out - it offers Ireland a chance to hammer down field and attempt to get something on the board before the break...

  7. Postpublished at 35 mins

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Quick ball from England but the offload is too high for Vicky Fleetwood to gather, and the flanker spills forward. Relief for Ireland.

  8. Postpublished at 33 mins

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Nightmare few seconds for Ireland as an England punt down field is missed by full-back Eimear Considine and ends up on their own try line. It's good, scrambling defence to get back around and deny England a fourth score.

  9. Postpublished at 31 mins

    England 17-0 Ireland

    A lady in the crowd plucks the ball out of the air like she's in the slips - and that brings the biggest cheer of the day...

  10. 'Breach will be happy with that'published at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Jess Breach is going to be happy with that. The last few games have all been about Abby Dow, so she'll be happy to get on the scoreboard. It's a lovely hand-off and that's key to wingers' finishing now.

    Emily Scarratt will be disappointed with that kick but the wind is brutal out there, you can see everyone's hair going.

  11. Postpublished at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 17-0 Ireland

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Castle Park

    That's Jess Breach's TWENTY-SECOND try for England. She's only played 13 times.

  12. try

    Try - England 17-0 Irelandpublished at 27 mins

    Jess Breach (27 mins)

    England pressure = England tries.

    Every time the hosts get good ball in the Ireland 22 they make them pay.

    The Red Roses find numbers on the left this time and it's a simple finish for the prolific Jess Breach, shrugging off a would-be tackler to dive over.

    Emily Scarratt's conversion catches a gust of wind and whips wide.

    Jess BreachImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 26 mins

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Or is it...

    England completely dominate Ireland at their own scrum and the visitors are forced to collapse it before backpedaling over their own line.

  14. Postpublished at 25 mins

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Becky 'Carol Kirkwood' Grey enjoying the sunshine in Donny, as is the sold-out Castle Park crowd - and we're all enjoying this entertaining contest so far.

    England look to get the rolling maul going once more but that's dealt with better by Ireland.

  15. Postpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Castle Park

    Apparently it's pouring it down at Twickenham ahead of the men's game. Meanwhile the sun is still shining in Doncaster.

    England have gone from 20C+ in Pau, to a blizzard at Murrayfield, to a crisp winter's day in the north of England. An all-weather team.

    Lark Davies on the runImage source, Getty Images
  16. 'England have been patient'published at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    England have been patient and that's where they're at their best, they wait for their opportunities. Ireland need to play with a bit of a higher tempo and execute their passing, they're passing behind themselves and that's helping England's line speed.

  17. Postpublished at 22 mins

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Lovely little dink over the onrushing Ireland defence from Katy Daley-McLean, but Emily Scarratt just can't gather on the bounce. That would've been nice.

  18. Postpublished at 21 mins

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Ireland again go on the offensive, just as they did before the try, but England stifle another attack and win back possession. An unbreakable wall of white at the moment.

  19. 'Get the ball to Dow and she'll do something'published at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    What phenomenal phases there by England, some really good unselfish play by Sarah McKenna after that amazing rolling maul. All the Irish defence were retreating and offside, so they just played quick and went out wide.

    Abby Dow's finishing ability is phenomenal, she's got a great hand-off, great footwork and good gas as well. Get the ball out to her and she'll do something with it.

  20. Postpublished at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2020

    England 12-0 Ireland

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Castle Park

    Abby Dow has just extended her lead as the tournament's top try-scorer so far this year. She has four in total now.