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Sun 12 Nov 2023 · Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Ladies 1st XVDartford Valley Ladies
45
0
Ladies dominate in 7 try win
Philip Bell13 Nov 2023 - 08:18
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Much needed rebound from last week
Heathfield Ladies 45 Dartford Valley 0
Heathfield Ladies were the generally dominant side with a seven try to nil win over Dartford Ladies. This was a much needed and pleasing result after the difficult previous weekend which came from a solid all-team performance against a side who had won the equivalent fixture last year.
Unusually for this year rain mostly stayed away and with little wind, conditions were neutral on a typically claggy pitch.
Heathfield played up the slope in the first half but this seemed to have little relevance as they generally dominated play. An early dynamic scrum gave useful momentum and a tasty run by Jaz Lewis followed by some good ball retention by ball carriers resulted in an attacking position in the top corner.
Continued possession eventually resulted in Lib Lawrence working her way over for a try near the posts and Maya Champion duly added the extras.
Dartford naturally responded and now had one of their best periods of the game with some pressure into the left hand corner. Eventually a home scrummage provided solid ball for Sophia Skinner to make a massive run, at times through heavy traffic, from her own try line to near half way. This was soon carried on by Caroil Saunders and a try looked inevitable and deserved. However as yet another piece of quick ruck ball was worked across the pitch the probably scoring pass was dropped just a couple of yards out.
The visitors’ defence was under massive pressure at this stage with most of the play in their 22 but it generally held firm. Kayleigh Honeyball was prominent among several others with big carries at this stage. At one point after multiple phases Heathfield did cross the line but the ball was held up.
Then with just minutes left in the half Champion found some space to make useful yards into the home 22. After a couple of phases in the top corner Velvet Turner collected quick ruck ball and a resounding handoff allowed her to charge over near the posts, again converted by Champion. (14-0)
Soon after the restart Saunders collected the ball in broken play in her own half and bashed her way through assorted tackles to have an apparently clear run to the line but younger legs finally hauled her down. Soon afterwards Dartford tried to run out of their own 22 but the ball was turned over and they were perhaps fortunate that a home knock on in the corner brought an end to the half.
After some initial Heathfield success at the scrum this was mostly even while the home lineout worked well. The coaches were particularly pleased with the team’s mauling which often provided good ball With the slope in their favour to come Heathfield will have been optimistic of securing a result.
However even their most enthusiastic supporters will have been surprised and pleased with the opening play of the second half as Lauren Duly followed up the opening drop out to turn the ball over and then charge the remaining 20 yards for a fine individual score.
Dartford were clearly a long way from beaten and often competed fiercely. A scrummage broke up with a scuffle and Amber Lovick received a yellow card. In the mens’ game this would be described as handbags – I look forward to receiving guidance as to the appropriate terminology for the Ladies game. Amber’s comments about the incident are not printable.
Heathfield saw out the period of Lovick’s card without serious difficulty and in the last quarter of the game scored four more tries.
First Holly Brooks completed a pitch wide handling movement in the left hand corner through several tacklers to collect the bonus point try.
Then Saunders came off the base of an attacking scrum from 10m out and had too much strength for the defence in the bottom right hand corner.
Sadly Honeyball now had to retire with a painful injury. She had been a significant force both in the scrummage and in carrying the ball, often in heavy traffic.
By now the home backs were starting to enjoy themselves with Champion much in control and Lewis was the eventual beneficiary at the end of some decent handling. Finally, Lovick worked her way over for the seventh try and, to the visitors’ probable relief, the final whistle.
Champion had a decent game and converted five of the seven tries but her contribution was dwarfed by Becky Taylor who seemed to be operating on a different dynamic level to anyone else.
This result leaves Heathfield in a very respectable 5th position of 10 in a very competitive league. The Ladies 1st XV have a week off, although the Harriers do have a game next week, before Hove who visit in an RFU Cup game which should be a lively affair. (28 Nov 2.00)
Heathfield Ladies were the generally dominant side with a seven try to nil win over Dartford Ladies. This was a much needed and pleasing result after the difficult previous weekend which came from a solid all-team performance against a side who had won the equivalent fixture last year.
Unusually for this year rain mostly stayed away and with little wind, conditions were neutral on a typically claggy pitch.
Heathfield played up the slope in the first half but this seemed to have little relevance as they generally dominated play. An early dynamic scrum gave useful momentum and a tasty run by Jaz Lewis followed by some good ball retention by ball carriers resulted in an attacking position in the top corner.
Continued possession eventually resulted in Lib Lawrence working her way over for a try near the posts and Maya Champion duly added the extras.
Dartford naturally responded and now had one of their best periods of the game with some pressure into the left hand corner. Eventually a home scrummage provided solid ball for Sophia Skinner to make a massive run, at times through heavy traffic, from her own try line to near half way. This was soon carried on by Caroil Saunders and a try looked inevitable and deserved. However as yet another piece of quick ruck ball was worked across the pitch the probably scoring pass was dropped just a couple of yards out.
The visitors’ defence was under massive pressure at this stage with most of the play in their 22 but it generally held firm. Kayleigh Honeyball was prominent among several others with big carries at this stage. At one point after multiple phases Heathfield did cross the line but the ball was held up.
Then with just minutes left in the half Champion found some space to make useful yards into the home 22. After a couple of phases in the top corner Velvet Turner collected quick ruck ball and a resounding handoff allowed her to charge over near the posts, again converted by Champion. (14-0)
Soon after the restart Saunders collected the ball in broken play in her own half and bashed her way through assorted tackles to have an apparently clear run to the line but younger legs finally hauled her down. Soon afterwards Dartford tried to run out of their own 22 but the ball was turned over and they were perhaps fortunate that a home knock on in the corner brought an end to the half.
After some initial Heathfield success at the scrum this was mostly even while the home lineout worked well. The coaches were particularly pleased with the team’s mauling which often provided good ball With the slope in their favour to come Heathfield will have been optimistic of securing a result.
However even their most enthusiastic supporters will have been surprised and pleased with the opening play of the second half as Lauren Duly followed up the opening drop out to turn the ball over and then charge the remaining 20 yards for a fine individual score.
Dartford were clearly a long way from beaten and often competed fiercely. A scrummage broke up with a scuffle and Amber Lovick received a yellow card. In the mens’ game this would be described as handbags – I look forward to receiving guidance as to the appropriate terminology for the Ladies game. Amber’s comments about the incident are not printable.
Heathfield saw out the period of Lovick’s card without serious difficulty and in the last quarter of the game scored four more tries.
First Holly Brooks completed a pitch wide handling movement in the left hand corner through several tacklers to collect the bonus point try.
Then Saunders came off the base of an attacking scrum from 10m out and had too much strength for the defence in the bottom right hand corner.
Sadly Honeyball now had to retire with a painful injury. She had been a significant force both in the scrummage and in carrying the ball, often in heavy traffic.
By now the home backs were starting to enjoy themselves with Champion much in control and Lewis was the eventual beneficiary at the end of some decent handling. Finally, Lovick worked her way over for the seventh try and, to the visitors’ probable relief, the final whistle.
Champion had a decent game and converted five of the seven tries but her contribution was dwarfed by Becky Taylor who seemed to be operating on a different dynamic level to anyone else.
This result leaves Heathfield in a very respectable 5th position of 10 in a very competitive league. The Ladies 1st XV have a week off, although the Harriers do have a game next week, before Hove who visit in an RFU Cup game which should be a lively affair. (28 Nov 2.00)
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