England see off USA, but fail to hit top gear

Tries: Rogers, Zackary Cons: Vogel

Tries: Moloney-MacDonald (4), Jones, Venner, Field, Feaunati, Kabeya Cons: Sing (2), Harrison (3)

England's Red Roses returned to winning ways, but without entirely vanquishing doubts over their position at the top of the women's game, as they saw off a spirited United States in New Jersey.

England started steadily enough with wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald crossing twice in the first 12 minutes, her second coming via a looping mis-pass from fly-half Holly Aitchison.

However the United States, who were obliterated 69-7 in the opening match of England's march to the Rugby World Cup last year, stuck in the contest far longer than they did that day in Sunderland.