Heathfield Ladies into national semi-final

Heathfield charged into the semi-final of the RFU Intermediate Plate with a dominating performance in the first half against a valiant Ellingham & Ringwood (E&R) from Hampshire who were probably still not up to speed after their long coach journey. By the time they started to perform in the second half the game was gone.
Conditions were good for early February with a dry but still claggy pitch and a fluky breeze down the slight slope. Heathfield had first use of the slope and certainly made use of it.
After some scrappy early play Lib Lawrence dived on the ball to secure possession to put her side on the front foot. Then a penalty gave Heathfield an attacking lineout in the bottom corner. Training during the week had focussed on the lineout and this immediately paid dividends as a set move put Britt Mole into a gap for the opening try with barely three minutes on the clock.
A few minutes later a visitors’ lineout was turned over and after Caitlin Flower had made a big break through the midfield Sophia Skinner finished well.
Then Steph Chipps made one of her several good runs in the day and decent support play saw the ball moved wide for Merve Prestedge who still had some work to do before claiming a good try on the right hand side. (15-0)
At the end of the first quarter a tap penalty was carried on through several pairs of hands before Holly Brooks dived into the left hand corner.
A few minutes later E&R worked their way into the home half but Becky Taylor made an important turnover and good hands quickly exploited the opportunity for Brooks to claim her second in the same corner.
Continued Heathfield pressure through several phases ended with Skinner making an unselfish and nicely timed pass to put Chip Chippett in for a simple try.
Heathfield did have another good attacking opportunity into the bottom corner but this time the lineout went wrong. Nonetheless the half ended with another home try as a strong run by Brooks was finished by Chippett for a half time score of 37-0.
Heathfield probably had a slight edge in the scrummage and the variable wind made the lineout a lottery. But Heathfield as a team had always looked comfortable ball in hand across all positions with good support running and looking for the offload. Lauren Duly was catching the eye with some strong tackling while Lawrence was keeping the visitors under pressure.
The Heathfield coaches employed several players off the bench at half time as they seek to develop game experience for the pool of relatively new players. This is no disrespect to E&R who duly started the second half with more possession and position.
E&R scored a quality try after ten minutes as their inside centre was on the end of some decent handling into the bottom corner. However the home side were not about to roll over and after some confused play (i.e. I don’t know what happened) replacement Amber Lovick made a big run and Chippett touched down on the left hand side for her third on the day.
The penalty count against the home side had been rising and eventually Abi Bandtock took a team yellow for holding on at the breakdown. With ten minutes left E&R exploited the extra player to turn over a scrum and good hands led to a try in the left hand corner.
Heathfield finished the stronger with Lovick in particular making several strong runs. On two occasions she was adjudged to have been held up over the line which appeared to be surprising decisions to many, not least Lovick.
It is pleasant to report that there was a good atmosphere and mutual respect between the two teams during and especially afterwards. This was in sharp contrast to the loutish behaviour that has been apparent in one recent league fixture.
The visiting coaches picked out their fly half Emma Lipsett and centre Kimberly Riolo for their performance on the day.
Heathfield will have been much encouraged as several people are stepping up in the absence of otherwise key players such as skipper Carol Saunders sidelined following last week’s unpleasant affair. As well as those mentioned above the coaches also noted Hannah Wood and Clare Baker but the whole squad did well and will be needed in what could be a long season.
The semi-final on 24th March will probably be away against Oxford Harlequins Ladies who today had a walkover in their quarter final. The other semi-final will be between Hordern & Peterlee (Durham) against Chester Devas (Cheshire). I expect that the worthy citizens of Hordern & Peterlee have never heard of Waldron either!
In the meantime Heathfield return to league duty next week when they visit Horsham who are having a strong season. (11 Feb 2.00)
Squad: Megan Baker Merve Prestedge Charleerose Chippett Sophia Skinner Holly Brooks Caitlin Flower Liberty Lawrence Hannah Overy Hannah Wood Abi Bandtock Stephanie Chipps Clare Baker Brittany Mole Lauren Duly Rebecca Taylor Kirsten McPhail Jade Fennell Sophie Honeyball Poppy Eacott Amber Lovick Phoebe Morgan Matilda Hood