Strong early defence provides foundation for a great Ladies win over Hove

Heathfield Ladies 11 Hove Ladies 0
Heathfield enjoyed an increasingly convincing win over near neighbours Hove in this RFU Intermediate Plate game which puts Heathfield into the last 8 of this national competition. As often happens in Cup games, the lower ranked side probably had slightly greater motivation going into this game between the two top ranked sides in Sussex based on last year’s league positions.
Conditions were as good as could be hoped for at this time of year with no wind on a dry day with well-grassed cover over a slightly claggy surface. Heathfield had first use of the slight slope although this was fairly irrelevant in the way the game developed.
The Hove kickoff put them into home territory and Heathfield struggled to work their way down the field. A notable weakness in the womens’ game is the lack of people with a big boot so Heathfield had to rely on good support play to make ground.
Possession was equally shared at this stage with both sides failing to make significant penetration out wide. The home coaches afterwards commented that they had tried to shut down the undoubted threat from the visitors’ back division by pressurising the midfield and this generally worked. At this stage Cat Moody in the home back row was starting to make a significant impact alongside her more celebrated colleagues in both defence and attack.
Hove did have a kickable penalty chance on the quarter hour but the kick was muffed. At a lineout soon afterwards Becky Taylor stole the Hove ball to further relieve pressure. Taylor sets such a high routine standard with her dynamic efforts all round the park and she had another impactful game today with tackles and useful carries along with good lineout work. Clare Baker was also noted now with some good work under the high ball and combative carries while at full back Megan Baker was also catching well.
Notably, when soon afterwards Hove had another kickable penalty chance they chose a scrummage but Heathfield managed to ruin that and easily cleared their lines.
The anticipated threat out wide from the visitors’ back division was gradually being weakened through injury as their starting full back and a centre had to retire through injury.
Having been stuck in their own half, indeed mostly in the 22, throughout most of the game thus far, with a few minutes left in the half a key moment now arrived as skipper Carol Saunders came off the back of a scrum and made huge yards to reach the Hove half for the first time in the game. Saunders was afterwards picked out by objective observers for providing such go-forward at crucial moments in the game.
A couple of penalties pushed the visitors into the bottom corner where another tap penalty was carried forward by Taylor and when the ball came back good support play saw Abi Bandtock charge over beside the corner flag for a decisive score, just on half time.
Since Hove would have use of the slope in the second half, a 5-0 lead was not significant. Neither side was dominating the set piece so the breakdown, as usual, was key.
Hove started the period strongly and most play was in the home half. Hannah Wood was noted with an important turnover to add to her useful work in the tight and elsewhere although she soon had to retire to attend a celebratory dinner for her doctorate.
Gradually the home defensive work again began to take effect. Maya Champion at fly half was noted with one especially meaty tackle but her occasional half breaks and kicks out of hand helped to keep her side on the front foot. The home pack was starting to have an edge in broken play with Velvet Turner being particularly noted with numerous strong carries in heavy traffic throughout the full 80 minutes.
On their first visit to the visitors’ 22 in this half a penalty enabled Champion to nudge her side further ahead (8-0). Thereafter it looked as though Hove were starting to feel the pressure while Heathfield were growing in confidence.
Lauren Duly, who was struggling with a bug, now retired and was replaced by Georgia Reed-Davies whose arrival had been delayed but who soon made a crunching impact against an opponent. The commitment of both of these players was characteristic of the team as a whole on the day.
Hove were still having periods of pressure into the home 22. A 5 m scrummage on the home try line looked dangerous but Lib Lawrence successfully disrupted the possession and the chance was gone.
This was a fiercely but fairly contested game and the referee now felt it necessary to warn both sides about the level of backchat.
Hove then looked to have a strong chance into the bottom corner as a chip ahead was bravely retrieved but when they moved the ball into midfield Hannah Overy made a crucial turnover on the try line and charged upfield to relieve the pressure.
With the clock ticking down Hove kept the ball alive with attacks down the left flank but C Baker added to her strong work on the day by making a handy run back to initiate a Heathfield move that ended with a simple penalty chance under the visitors’ posts. Champion duly added the points to end the game.
Heathfield’s defensive efforts in the first half hour provided the foundation which enabled the final outcome. It was also pleasing to see that they looked to at least match Hove in terms of fitness over the full 80 minutes.
Hove were generous in their comments after the game. On what was a difficult day for them their tight head Beth Tetlow was picked out for her work in the tight and some decent tackling.
This is the first time that Heathfield have defeated Hove at 1st team level in the Ladies game and it is also the first time that they have beaten a Championship 2 side. There was plenty of mutual respect between the teams afterwards and Sussex Rugby is all the stronger for this sort of competition, with Horsham and Pulborough clearly providing a similar standard so the County side should benefit.
Heathfield will have to wait to hear who they face in the last 8 of this national Cup competition on 4th Feb but it will involve a team from outside the immediate area. The other winning teams are Bridgnorth, Chester, Horden & Peterlee, Oxford Harlequins, Effingham & Ringwood, Wymondham and Southport.
Next week Heathfield face a different challenge when they travel to Pulborough for an NC 1 league match. Pulborough have had some impressive wins this season and have only lost to the two top sides in the league so it will be a challenge to Heathfield to produce the same level of performance and commitment as shown today. (3 Dec 2.00)

Team
1. Amber Lovick 2. Hannah Wood 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Velvet Turner 5. Lauren Duly 6. Catriona Moody 7 Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10. Maya Champion 11. Beth Suggitt 12 Sophia Skinner 13 Chip Chippett 14 Clare Baker 15. Megan Baker.
Replacements
16. Hannah Overy 17. Sophie Honeyball 18 Georgia Reed-Davies 19 Matilda Hood 20 Phoebe Morgan