Former Welwyn and Datchworth junior Hannah Botterman was front and centre as England recorded a victory over Canada in the Summer Series.

The Red Roses followed up a 50-24 success at Exeter with a 29-12 win at Saracens' Copthall Stadium.

However, the result left interim head coach Louis Deacon frustrated as the home side had played more than an hour with a woman advantage, Gabrielle Senft sent off for a dangerous challenge on Botterman on 17 minutes.

Deacon said: "We let a lot of opportunities slip by but I think our defence was outstanding at times, certainly when we were in our own 22.

"Canada are quite a powerful team when it comes to the maul so I was really impressed with that.

"Maybe we got drawn into a false sense of where the game was going after the red card.

"Often when that happens you think the game is going to open up, but the opposite happened.

"The pace of the game went and there were quite a few errors. We couldn't quite get into our rhythm."

But the boss, in charge until John Mitchell takes up the full-time post after the World Cup in France, says the performance is just a small stepping stone on their way towards their own World Cup battle in 2025, to be played on home soil.

He added: "We've changed quite a bit and we showed signs of that.

"It's very much a journey for us and we're only two weeks into that. It's not going to be perfect straight away.

"If we're looking down the line to 2025, we're trying to grow our game understanding and look at different ways of playing the game.

"This is the time to do it but we are only at the start and it will take time."

Captain Marlie Packer, Ellie Kildunne, Maud Muir, Amber Reed and Jess Breach got the tries for the Red Roses with Canada replying through Sara Svoboda and Taylor Perry. 

Botterman's former clubs had very different outcomes in their latest Counties One Herts Middlesex matches.

Welwyn recorded their first win of the campaign - without even playing.

Hampstead, who were due to visit Hobbs Way, pulled out of the fixture earlier in the week, handing all five points to the home side.

Datchworth did play but found London Scottish Lions just too good on the day, the game at Datchworth Green ending in a 40-5 win for the away side.

The results leaves both sides on six points, although Welwyn are one place higher than their neighbours in seventh.