ENGLAND'S rugby women went some way towards easing the disappointment of missing out on Six Nations glory, when they beat Canada in the opening round of the Churchill Cup.

Salisbury winger Emily Cooke was instrumental in the convincing 39-11 victory at Calgary Rugby Park, scoring two tries.

Although feeling there was room for improvement in her overall performance, Cooke (left) described the game as very enjoyable to play in and reflected with pride on the first of her tries, a trademark sprint from a long way out, which took her past both defence and cover tacklers.

New Zealand-born flanker Shannon Baker enjoyed a blistering debut for England, scoring a hat-trick of tries.

England women now meet New Zealand's Black Ferns in the final at Edmonton's Com-monwealth Stadium on Saturday.

If named in the team, Cooke will be looking to avenge England's 2002 World Cup final defeat at the hands of the Kiwis in Barcelona.

She said: "I am really looking forward to the game. It will be tough, but they are definitely beatable."

Meanwhile there was no joy for Salisbury World Cup winner Richard Hill, who was on the losing side when England took a 36-3 pasting from the All Blacks in Dunedin.