Valkyries’ captain Lark Davies won the player of the match award after she helped England defeat Canada 27-19 in the second Quilter International of the autumn at Doncaster on Sunday.
Hooker Davies scored both two tries, her first in international rugby, before half time to help England into a 15-7 lead at the interval. She went over for her first try from a driving maul after England kicked a penalty to the corner and followed up with her second from a pick-and-drive move soon after.
Canada pulled to within three points midway through the second half before tries from Kelly Smith and Abbie Scott made the game safe for England.
“Canada really brought the game to us and we had to find ways to score,” Davies said.
“To come away with the win was massive for us but we still have lots of learning to do.
“It was really physical, we knew they would be good athletes and perhaps our discipline wasn’t as good as it could have been, but we are on a learning journey and to get the win is really good but we know we can be better.”