Women's RL: Roche steals in for try brace as England win in France

The visitors, who led 26-0 after half an hour, also saw braces for Tara Stanley, who kicked five goals, as well as Leeds Rhinos debutant Caitlin Beevers and Wigan’s Becky Greenfield, and produced a fine second half to seal a convincing win on the road.

Bradford centre Amy Hardcastle stormed in untouched from 30 metres out to break the deadlock on nine minutes before Castleford full-back Stanley kicking the first of her five goals for 6-0.

A pinpoint kick from St Helens’ Faye Gaskin then set up a debut try out wide for Greenfield, before Beevers went over out wide, Stanley goaling to make it 16-0 after 17 minutes.

Stanley got on the scoresheet herself on 21 minutes, darting over from 20 metres out and converting to make it 22-0.

Craig Richards’ side were flying and went in again through Leeds utility player Rhiannion Marshall, whose try made it 26-0 on the half-hour mark – which is how it stayed at the break.

The interval didn’t interrupt England’s rhythm, however, as Roche bagged her first on 42 minutes after France fumbled a high kick, before Beevers got another six minutes later to leave England 34-0 up.

It took until the hour mark for England’s next score, Greenfield going over out wide, before Naomi Williams’ solo effort, plus another Stanley goal, put England 44-0 up with 17 minutes to play.

Stanley scored another soon after, adding the goal and, though France hit back with a late try of their own, England had the final say as Roche scored from range to round off the scoring at 54-4.