England wingers Claudia MacDonald and Abby Dow both scored doubles in a 59-7 rout of Scotland at Welford Road to set up a Six Nations grand slam decider next week against France.
The Red Roses turned on the style in front of a 15,530-crowd, running in nine tries – six of them in a dominant first half – as they extended their winning run to 24 matches.
Kelsey Clifford, Marlie Packer, captain Zoe Aldcroft, MacDonald, Abbie Ward and Lark Atkin-Davies all went over to put England 42-0 up at half-time.
MacDonald touched down for her second try after the break and although Scotland responded through centre Lisa Thomson's score, Dow had the crowd out of their seats with her first effort before she completed the scoring.
England had been given a tough test in the first half of their previous match against Ireland in Cork before running out 49-5 winners and they produced a brilliant performance in the opening 40 minutes against Scotland.
Prop Clifford barged over from close range to give England a sixth-minute lead before flanker and former captain Packer burrowed over for her 50th Red Roses try.
Flanker Aldcroft’s interception effort put England 21-0 up in the 21st minute and seven minutes later MacDonald side-stepped her way over for the home side’s fourth try.
Second row Ward stretched over to extend England’s lead before hooker Atkin-Davies dived over from a metre out to put the Red Roses out of sight at the interval.
Fly-half Holly Aitchison landed all six of her first-half conversion attempts before England resumed in relentless fashion.
Scotland continued to gamely make their tackles, but the Red Roses brilliantly span the ball wide for MacDonald to race in at the corner for her second touch down.
Dogged Scotland responded with a try through Thomson following a driving maul to deservedly get themselves on the scoreboard, with fly-half Helen Nelson converting to leave England 49-7 ahead.
The Scots’ defence and intensity was much improved in the second period and they enjoyed another spell of decent possession and territory with 20 minutes remaining.
But England finished strongly to add to their tally through Dow’s late double – her first a superb 50-metre solo effort – with Aitchison missing her last two conversion attempts.
Earlier in the day, France produced a second-half fightback to beat Italy 34-21 and maintain their 100 per cent record in the Women's Six Nations.
Joanna Grisez’s early try had given France a flying start in Parma, but after French lock Madoussou Fall was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, Italy recovered to lead 21-12 at half-time following tries from Vittoria Vecchini, Aura Muzzo and Silvia Turani. Morgane Bourgeois also touched down for the visitors.
France rallied for the second half, going on to secure a bonus point following tries from Romane Menager and Marine Menager before replacement Alexandra Chambon went over in the last minute – with Les Bleues set for a winner-takes-all showdown away to England on April 26.
Watch Wales v Ireland in the Women's Six Nations on Sunday from 2.40pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
