England Women overcame horrendous rain and muddy conditions to beat Ireland 22-5 at Esher on Sunday.

Although the conditions dictated the run of play, England managed an impressive four tries on Sunday to make it three wins out of three in their quest to retain their RBS Six Nations crown.

Richmond’s Amy Turner, on as a replacement, scored the final try with 11 minutes left, adding to earlier scores from Maggie Alphonso, Emily Scarratt and Claire Allan.

Head coach Gary Street said: “This was our toughest match so far and the conditions affected both sides. But we still managed to score some quality tries, which says a lot about the willingness of this side and how they want to play.”

England next face Scotland on March 13 at Meggatland Stadium (1.30pm).

England: 15 Claire Allan (Richmond), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 12 Alice Richardson (Richmond), 11 Michaela Staniford (Wasps), 10 Katy Mclean (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Team Northumbria), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Heather Fisher (Worcester), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (C) (Bristol). Replacements: 16 Samantha Reeve (Worcester), 17 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 18 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 19 Jane Leonard (Lichfield / Army), 20 Amy Turner (Richmond), 21 Rachael Burford (Richmond), 22 Fran Matthews (Richmond) Tries: Alphonsi, Scarratt, Allan, Turner Conversions: McLean Substitutions: Burford for Richardson, Turner for Mason (both 45 mins), Leonard for Fisher (53), Reeve for Garnet, McGilchrist for Essex, Purdy for Clark, Matthews for Merchant (all 69).

Ireland: 15 Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster), 14 Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 13 Joanne O'Sullivan (Richmond/Exile), 12 Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), 11 Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), 10 Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), 9 Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), 1 Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), 2 Chris Fanning (Highfield/Munster), 3 Lauren Day (Cooke/Ulster), 4 Kate O'Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), 5 Marie Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster), 6 Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), 7 Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), 8 Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster). Replacements: 16 Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), 17 Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), 18 Louise Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster), 19 Carol Staunton (Galwegians/ Connacht), 20 Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster), 21 Grace Davitt (Blackrock/Leinster), 22 Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht).

Tries: O'Loughlin