England Women opened their RBS Six Nations Championship campaign with a 31-0 victory over Wales at Esher RFC on Saturday.

In running in five tries, Gary Street's also avenged the loss they suffered to Wales a year ago. England now travel to Italy in seven days time aiming to continue their winning run and defend their Six Nations title for a fifth successive year.

Worcester duo Heather Fisher and Kat Merchant, Lichfield's Emily Scarratt, Darlington Mowden Park Sharks' Katy McLean and Team Northumbria's Rochelle Clark all touched down for tries.

Street said: "I am very satisfied with this win. It's certainly a good way to start the championship.

“As always we do all our talking on the pitch and although we were a little rusty because of the winter break we secured a good win against the second best side in Europe.

“We just had too much power and pace for them and that was a good way to put an end to the gremlins of losing to Wales last season."

England's supporters didn't have to wait long for the action to begin with the home side on the score board after just four minutes.

Worcester's Fisher was clearly carrying her impressive form from the November international tests against New Zealand into the Six Nations series, with an impressive evening which saw her touch down for her first ever try.

The explosive flanker showed great support and patience to take on the ball after a great break by Scarratt when she was taken out. Fisher then showed her pace to force her way over the line. Katy McLean couldn't add the conversion.

England sustained the attacking pressure and Wales failed to make many breaks into the home side's territory, but they were dogged in defence and England had to wait until the 27th minute to get another score on the board.

Some great hits by England's forwards forced the turn-over and the ball was then recycled out to the backs with Rachael Burford and Scarratt taking it on. Merchant this time was in support and took it on to score England's second try. McLean missed the conversion.

Wales remained defiant and although they lost Catrina Nicholas to the sin bin, they kept England at bay until the 44th minute when Scarratt used her speed and strength to cut through the midfield and touch down for the third try. This time McLean converted, handing England a 17-0 lead at half-time.

The one way traffic continued after the restart and England dominated possession and territory. Wales's full back Non Evans missed the visitors' only real chance of points when she failed with a penalty attempt and Wales' evening went from bad to worse losing another player to the sin-bin.

Wales were however let off the hook for a while with England failing to convert the pressure into points as they failed to execute some of their moves. A rush of substitutions proved fruitful though with the likes of Clark, Alice Richardson and Tamara Taylor adding something extra to England's game.

On 63 minutes England cruised into a 24-0 lead with vice captain McLean also scoring her first try for England.

Winger Fiona Pocock made a lightening break but a crunching tackle took her out of the equation but Scarratt kept the momentum going.

McLean was in support and she took the ball on to dart across field and score. McLean then converted her own try.

Clark, returning for England for the first time since the Nations Cup last summer, then rounded off an impressive return when hooker Sam Reeve took a quick tap penalty deep in Wales' 22 to set up Clark, who muscled her way over the line with ease. McLean again added the conversion, handing the home side the 31-0 victory.

England: 15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 11 Fiona Pocock (Richmond), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol). Replacements: 16 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 18 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 19 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 20 Georgina Rozario (Bristol), 21 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 22 Michaela Staniford (Wasps) Tries: Fisher, Merchant, Scarratt, McLean, Clark Conversions: McLean (2) Substitutions: Taylor for Essex (14 min, blood), Essex for Taylor (31, blood reversal), Richardson for Burford (47), Clark for Purdy (54), Taylor for Essex (54), Staniford for Pocock (65), Reeve for Garnett (67), Burnfield for Fisher (71), Rozario for Mason (71).

Wales: 15 Non Evans (Cardiff Quins), 14 Aimee Young (UWIC), 13 Ceri Redman (UWIC), 12 Clare Flowers (Bristol Ladies), 11 Caryl James (Cardiff Quins), 10 Awen Thomas (Unattached), 9 Amy Day (Bristol Ladies), 1 Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins), 2 Jenny Davies (Waterloo), 3 Hannah Roberts (UWIC), 4 Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), 5 Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins), 6 Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), 7 Jamie Kift (Bristol Ladies), 8 Mellissa Berry (Blaydon) (captain). Replacements: 16 Clare Horgan (Saracens), 17 Becky Newton (Cardiff Quins), 18 Claire Donovan (Saracens), 19 Louise Horgan (Saracens), 20 Laura Prosser (Cardiff Quins), 21 Elinor Snowsill (Loughborough), 22 Louise Rickard (Saracens) Half time score: England 17 Wales 0 Referee: David Keane (IRFU) Assistant Referees: Darryl Chapman and Simon Adams England’s Six Nations fixtures: Feb 13 v Italy (Noceto), 28 v Ireland (Esher), Mar 13 v Scotland (Meggatland), Mar 19 v France (Rennes).