7:30pm Sunday 7th February 2010
WORCESTER Warriors wing Miles Benjamin was among the try-scorers as England Saxons recorded their second victory in as many weeks, overcoming Italy ‘A’ 31-5 in Treviso.
Stuart Lancaster’s men built on the 17-13 victory against Ireland ‘A’ by putting in a dogged performance against a physical Italy side.
England worked their way back from a 5-0 half-time deficit scoring three tries through Benjamin, Alex Goode (Saracens) and David Strettle (Harlequins) plus a penalty try. Italy’s only points came from scrum-half Pablo Canavosio.
An early second-half Shane Geraghty penalty got England on the scoreboard. In the 58th minute, they added to their lead when Strettle raced up the wing and off-loaded to Northampton’s Phil Dowson, who sent Sixways ace Benjamin over. Geraghty added the conversion.
England’s hard working forwards were then rewarded by referee Andrew Macpherson with a penalty try and replacement Goode slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 17-5.
Goode then scored and converted his own try in 76th minute, before improving Strettle’s effort shortly after.
n Warriors back row Jake Abbott saw his hopes of retaining the New Zealand Sevens title end as eventual champions Fiji secured a 28-19 semi-final victory.
Dan Caprice (Blackheath) and Mat Turner (Bristol) crossed for England, but the Fijians came back from an early deficit to build a lead they never relinquished.
After losing their captain Kevin Barrett (Saracens) to injury on day one Ryan’s side came back to beat Canada in the quarter final 31-0 with former Worcester ace Ben Gollings (Gold Coast), Turner and Caprice adding to the scoreboard.
England will now travel to the USA for next weekend’s Las Vegas Sevens where they will face Wales, Japan and Argentina in the pool stages.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.worcesternews.co.uk