Ladies still on top!

Lordswood 10 Heathfield Ladies 57

Heathfield ladies continued their successful league campaign with a first visit to wind-swept Lordswood in North Kent and returned with a nine to two tries victory that keeps them at the top of the league table.
Lordswood are at the other end of the table so such a result is not surprising. However Heathfield were fielding four players having their first game so there was some concern about how strong the team actually was. In the event all of the ‘newbies’ did well and contributed fully.
Not for the first time this year Heathfield were confronted by a strong pack of forwards and it was the visitors’ all-round game that was the decisive factor.
Lordswood could only field 14 players so the numbers were evened up. Sadly injuries meant that it eventually became 12 aside and we wish the injured of both sides a speedy recovery.
With several regular players absent, it was necessary for some to play out of their normal positions. Sophia Skinner, normally a flanker, had a very decent game at fly half for the day. Injuries during the game caused skipper Becky Taylor to take over at prop and Katie Statham moved to scrum half: both did well in unfamiliar roles.
Playing into the strong wind Heathfield opened the scoring with a try by Emily Sowell who went on the collect four in all as the home side struggled to contain her pace and strong running. Lordswood did reply with a try through their forwards but thereafter it was mostly one way traffic.
The try scorers were Sowell (4), Carla Monson (2), Amber Lovick, Skinner and Statham. Monson and Georgia Reed-Davies converted three apiece.
Of the new players Bethany Wright made a particular impact with some strong tackling. Jasmine White and Marie Eggleshaw got involved in the backs and showed definite promise while Hanna Kovats impressed in the second row and then back row with some useful rucking.
Next week Heathfield entertain Blackheath Ladies II in the last league game of the season (17 Mar 2.00). Hopefully some of today’s absentees will be back in action. Cranbrook are the only team who can prevent Heathfield from winning the title but their last game is not until 31st March.

Compiled from notes by HMP

Team
Amber Lovick, Poppy Eacott, Carly Harris, Hanna Kovats, Georgia Reed-Davies, Katie Statham, Becky Taylor , Brittany Mole, Carla Monson, Sophia Skinner, Bethany Wright, Lauren Duly, Emily Sowell, Jasmine White, Nicky Charter, Marie Eggleshaw