Solid start for our Six Nations stars (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Solid start for our Six Nations stars

SALISBURY rugby sensations Richard Hill and Emily Cooke were both on international duty at the weekend helping their respective England sides to comfortable opening victories in the 2004 Six Nations campaign, writes Mike Turner.

Richard Hill (left) made his 64th appearance for England as Clive Woodward's World Cup winners ran out 50-9 winners in Rome against Italy.

Hill, fully recovered from the injuries sustained when he captained England against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham just before Christmas, turned in his usual stoic performance as England eventually put the Italians to the sword.

With women's rugby in Italy still at a formative stage, Spain again complete their Six Nations line-up.

England had a three-hour journey from their Madrid base for their opening game in defence of the title they won last year, emulating their male counterparts.

The day proved a personal triumph for Salisbury winger Emily Cooke who scored a hat-trick of tries in a 71-3 rout.

Emily (right) said: "It was our first game together since the Churchill Cup final in Canada and maybe it showed early on. It took us about ten minutes to get into the game."

The Leaden Hall School teacher helped quash any lingering nerves by scoring the game's opening try.

"It was nice to score the first one which settled everyone down. Then they just kept on coming - in fact all our tries were scored by our backs."

Like England's men's team, the women head north of the border to Scotland for their next Six Nations encounter this weekend.

"Scotland could be an interesting one," said Cooke. "They thrashed Wales in their opening game and they'll be up for it against us."

England women will then take on Ireland in the curtain raiser at Twickenham prior to the men's clash on Saturday, March 6.