IF anything was proved to us this summer, it is to never doubt our National women’s teams when they represent us on the International stage.
This summer our triumphant Lionesses won the UEFA European Championship in Switzerland for the second time running, being the first senior England football team to win an international competition on foreign soil and also go back to back.
Our remarkable Red Roses won the Rugby World Cup this summer for the third time in their history ending their 11 year drought for silverware, but also winning the tournament on home soil for the first time, proving they are the best of the best for years to come.
Let’s have a look at their winning campaigns more closely.
The Lionesses started off their campaign with a shaky start with a loss in the group stage against France, Keira Walsh was the only player to put the ball in the back of the net for England with that scoreline ending 2-1.
This defeat made the Lionesses the first reigning champions to lose their opening match at a European Championship but they didn’t let that define their tournament championship.
The team bounced back in their next group game putting four past the Netherlands with no reply. Goals came from Lauren James, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone. Moving to the knockouts looked promising.
France beat Wales in their second group game which bolstered England’s chances to make it out of the group into the knockouts – all they had to do was win their final group game.
For the final group game the girls came up against tournament debutantes, Wales. England weren’t letting Wales get away lightly as they put six past the newbies. It was goals galore from Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beaver-Jones.
It was the Quarter-Final clash against Sweden which came next and it wasn’t an easy one for our Lionesses.
England found themselves 2-0 down at the 79th minute but football veteran Lucy Bronze and new shining star Michelle Ageymang saved England at the death to bring the game to 2-2. Ultimately the game went to penalties and of course, England won.
Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Lucy Bronze all converted from the penalty spot with Lauren James, Beth Mead, Alex Greenwood and Grace Clinton unfortunatgely missing their penalties.
The Semi-Final was a ‘sitting on the edge of your seat’ sort of match from start to finish and we had our hearts in our mouths the whole time.
Italian powerhouse, Barbra Bonesea scored for Italy in the first half and England were struggling to hold on and it looked likely we were going home – until Michelle Ageymang happened. The young star came off the bench to equalise for her country in the 6th minute of injury time.
Chloe Kelly was the player to send her country into a second final when she scored off the rebound of her missed penalty.
The well awaited final was a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone.
Mariona Caldentey scored for Spain in the first half leaving all of us back home slightly heartbroken. The Lionesses came out for the second half with a different buzz about them and flipped the game on its head.
Alessia Russo doing what she does best and equalised for her country early on in the second half. No team could find their way to a second goal in the second half nor extra time and the game headed to penalties.
Beth Mead and Leah Williamson unfortunately missed their penalities in the shootout.
However, Alex Greenwood and Niamh Charles scored their penalities to take it to sudden death.
Chloe Kelly was the one who stepped up and made the Lionesses European Champions once again.
The Red Roses journey at the Rugby World Cup came up next – but this time on home soil with a lot of backing from the country.
They started their campaign in Pool A up against the USA at the Stadium of Light and England showed just how powerful they are with the scoreline ending 69-7 to the Red Roses. The attendance for this match alone was larger than the attendance for the entire tournament in 2010 – talk about growth!
Tries came from Kabeya, Botterman, Muir, Kildunne x2, Dow, Cokayne, Breach x2, Atkin-Davies x2. Cons came from Harrison x6 and Sing.
Next up for the team was Samoa at Franklins Gardens and England were dominant from start to finish, giving hints of that winning flair, claiming their victory 97-3. This gigantic win made it 59 wins from 60 so far with the only loss coming from the 2022 World Cup Final.
Jones x2, Breach x3, Bern, Feaunati, Atkin-Davies, L Packer, Clifford, Carson, Rowland, M Packer and Moloney-Macdonald all scored Tries in the match. Rowland scored a massive 11 Cons to add to England’s dominant display.
The final game of pool A was next. Australia v England at Brighton and Hove Stadium and yet again England did not slip up easily as they beat the Aussies 47-7, despite being tested in the first half, England put up a good fight to get the job done.
Breach, Ward, Kabeya x2, Clifford x2, and Bern were the players that scored Tries and Harrison was the only player to convert any Cons, which she did six times for her nation.
The knockouts was next for the Red Roses where they proved their worth against Scotland at Ashton Gate Stadium making it 40-8. England in the red and Scotland in the blue, a proper physical battle.
Cons were made by Aitchison as she put past 5. Tries were put down by Clifford x2, Talling, Dow, Cokayne and Aitchison.
The long-awaited Semi-Final came next and World Cup glory was in sight and star Ellie Kildunne was back. France v England. La Bleue put up quite the fight but were unable to beat the Red Roses as they were defeated 35-17.
Kildunne x2, Cokayne, Ward and Jones all contributed to the scoreline as they scored tries. Harrison also helped out massively as she put 5 conversions past the opposition.
The World Cup final came next. Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. England made it to the final of their home tournament, but they were facing other tournament giants – Canada.
Possibly the toughest match the Red Roses had to get through but of course they powered through and brought sport home for the second time this summer. They beat the Maple Leaves 33-13, leaving the second placers in the dust.
Rugby star girl Kildunne, started the scoring for England with Cokayne, Matthews x2 and Ward also all getting themselves a try. It was Harrison once again who scored multiple conervsions for her country as she put 5 past Canada.
This summer was definetly a successful one for women’s sport and it will only go up from here – Let’s hope the titles can be defended 4 years from now and maybe the growth would have doubled by then.
