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Sun 08 Oct 2023 · Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Ladies 1st XVGuildford Gazelles Ladies
7
14
Gazelles edge past Heathfield
Philip Bell9 Oct 2023 - 06:27
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A hard game on a day more suited to cricket
Heathfield Ladies 7 Guildford Gazelles 14
Rugby can be a cruel game sometimes and today Heathfield Ladies were on the wrong end of a couple of key moments.
In excellent conditions with temperatures well into the 20s, the Gazelles had first use of the slight slope although this had little significance on the day.
After some early Heathfield pressure, the visitors started to get into the game and had a period of sustained pressure on the home try line. However their best chance was ruined when the ball was dropped just two yards out.,
Heathfield duly worked their way back up field, helped to a large extent by any number of turnovers by skipper Carol Saunders. Afterwards some suggested she was well into double figures over the whole game and was certainly one of the most influential players on the day with multiple useful carries.
She was aided throughout the game by good runs by Becky Taylor and Kayleigh Honeyball. Honeyball typically takes the ball into heavy traffic and while she may not make many yards it normally takes several tacklers to halt her progress, putting her team on the front foot.
After fifteen minutes the Gazelles turned over a maul in midfield and good hands down the left flank resulted in a try under the posts. In a close game just one missed tackle can make the difference.
However this was generally a close game with neither side in control. The Gazelles clearly had some dangerous backs while Heathfield looked to be more effective in the forward battle. Heathfield were trying to play their preferred game ball in hand and indeed a few kicks ahead were typically returned back with interest by the visitors.
After half an hour Heathfield built some decent pressure into the visitors' half with Taylor and Honeyball prominent as usual before Georgia Reed-Davies arrived at the perfect moment and charged over under the posts.
The half time score of 7-7 was a fair reflection of the game thus far. Neither side dominated the scrummage although the home side was under a little pressure. Similarly, the lineout was even although some felt that too many crooked throws were not penalised.
What proved to be the decisive moment in the game came a few minutes into the second half. A decent kick by the visitors’ fly half was being fielded on the home 22 under some pressure when an attempted offload looped up invitingly and a Gazelles player arrived at the perfect moment to intercept and stroll under the posts.
This reflected two aspects of the game. The Gazelles fly half Katie Davies, has an especially effective boot, relatively rare in the womens’ game at this level, and she made many yards for her team. Heathfield are keen to play a quick off-loading game but sometimes it can be better to hang on to the ball and wait for the cavalry.
Thereafter Heathfield probably had more possession and position with several periods in the visitors’ 22 but the coaches felt afterwards they did not have the shape in attack to make the necessary penetration.
Heathfield also had several good runs from deep and it took try saving tackles by the visitors’ full back Millie Davies, who was their other key player on the day.
The Gazelles did have one visit to the home 22 and secured a penalty chance which would have left Heathfield needing two scores. However the kick came back off an upright for the ball to be run back into the visitors’ half. A deliberate knock was penalised but, surprisingly to some, no card was issued.
The penalty count was high throughout the game for both sides with high tackles being the commonest offence as the new tackle height law is still causing issues.
The Gazelles defence deserves credit for holding out under considerable pressure in this half. A draw would not have been an unfair reflection of the overall game but the Gazelles took their chances and thus secured the win.
Many players were exhausted afterwards, a reflection of the unusually hot conditions for a well-contested game played on a fast surface.
As well as those mentioned above, the coaches also mentioned Clare Baker for some industrious work in attack and defence while Lauren Duly was noted with some crunching tackles.
After a week’s rest Heathfield next visit Canterbury who Heathfield have never beaten but whose results this season appear inconsistent. (22 Oct 2.00)
Team
1. Steph Chipps 2. Hannah Woods 3. Kayleigh Honeyball 4. Georgia Reed-Davies 5. Velvet Turner 6. Lauren Duly 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Britt Mole 10 Maya Champion 11. Phoebe Morgan 12. Chip Chippett 13. Clare Baker 14. Liberty Lawrence 15. Jasmin Lewis
Replacements
16 Amber Lovick 17. Hannah Overy 18. Samarra Honeyball 19. Katir Baurer20. Holly Brooks 21 Bethany Suggitt
Rugby can be a cruel game sometimes and today Heathfield Ladies were on the wrong end of a couple of key moments.
In excellent conditions with temperatures well into the 20s, the Gazelles had first use of the slight slope although this had little significance on the day.
After some early Heathfield pressure, the visitors started to get into the game and had a period of sustained pressure on the home try line. However their best chance was ruined when the ball was dropped just two yards out.,
Heathfield duly worked their way back up field, helped to a large extent by any number of turnovers by skipper Carol Saunders. Afterwards some suggested she was well into double figures over the whole game and was certainly one of the most influential players on the day with multiple useful carries.
She was aided throughout the game by good runs by Becky Taylor and Kayleigh Honeyball. Honeyball typically takes the ball into heavy traffic and while she may not make many yards it normally takes several tacklers to halt her progress, putting her team on the front foot.
After fifteen minutes the Gazelles turned over a maul in midfield and good hands down the left flank resulted in a try under the posts. In a close game just one missed tackle can make the difference.
However this was generally a close game with neither side in control. The Gazelles clearly had some dangerous backs while Heathfield looked to be more effective in the forward battle. Heathfield were trying to play their preferred game ball in hand and indeed a few kicks ahead were typically returned back with interest by the visitors.
After half an hour Heathfield built some decent pressure into the visitors' half with Taylor and Honeyball prominent as usual before Georgia Reed-Davies arrived at the perfect moment and charged over under the posts.
The half time score of 7-7 was a fair reflection of the game thus far. Neither side dominated the scrummage although the home side was under a little pressure. Similarly, the lineout was even although some felt that too many crooked throws were not penalised.
What proved to be the decisive moment in the game came a few minutes into the second half. A decent kick by the visitors’ fly half was being fielded on the home 22 under some pressure when an attempted offload looped up invitingly and a Gazelles player arrived at the perfect moment to intercept and stroll under the posts.
This reflected two aspects of the game. The Gazelles fly half Katie Davies, has an especially effective boot, relatively rare in the womens’ game at this level, and she made many yards for her team. Heathfield are keen to play a quick off-loading game but sometimes it can be better to hang on to the ball and wait for the cavalry.
Thereafter Heathfield probably had more possession and position with several periods in the visitors’ 22 but the coaches felt afterwards they did not have the shape in attack to make the necessary penetration.
Heathfield also had several good runs from deep and it took try saving tackles by the visitors’ full back Millie Davies, who was their other key player on the day.
The Gazelles did have one visit to the home 22 and secured a penalty chance which would have left Heathfield needing two scores. However the kick came back off an upright for the ball to be run back into the visitors’ half. A deliberate knock was penalised but, surprisingly to some, no card was issued.
The penalty count was high throughout the game for both sides with high tackles being the commonest offence as the new tackle height law is still causing issues.
The Gazelles defence deserves credit for holding out under considerable pressure in this half. A draw would not have been an unfair reflection of the overall game but the Gazelles took their chances and thus secured the win.
Many players were exhausted afterwards, a reflection of the unusually hot conditions for a well-contested game played on a fast surface.
As well as those mentioned above, the coaches also mentioned Clare Baker for some industrious work in attack and defence while Lauren Duly was noted with some crunching tackles.
After a week’s rest Heathfield next visit Canterbury who Heathfield have never beaten but whose results this season appear inconsistent. (22 Oct 2.00)
Team
1. Steph Chipps 2. Hannah Woods 3. Kayleigh Honeyball 4. Georgia Reed-Davies 5. Velvet Turner 6. Lauren Duly 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Britt Mole 10 Maya Champion 11. Phoebe Morgan 12. Chip Chippett 13. Clare Baker 14. Liberty Lawrence 15. Jasmin Lewis
Replacements
16 Amber Lovick 17. Hannah Overy 18. Samarra Honeyball 19. Katir Baurer20. Holly Brooks 21 Bethany Suggitt
Further reading
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