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Sun 10 Dec 2023 · Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Ladies 1st XVTonbridge Juddian Ladies
25
0
Ladies defeat rain and Judds
Philip Bell11 Dec 2023 - 08:56
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Four tries in the last quarter are decisive
Heathfield Ladies 25 Tonbridge Juddians 0
Heathfield collected a bonus point home win over Tonbridge Juddians in what had initially seemed unlikely conditions for any game to happen.
Half an hour before the scheduled time many would have been surprised that a game was still being contemplated as heavy rain in a driving wind was making the so-called warmups a trial of survival. It was finally agreed, for the second day in a row, that the game would be played on Wilson-Rhodes.
This report is being written with the Racing92 v Harlequins European game on my tv. (Radio 3 in the background to add to the mix.) The different circumstances of the two games (all weather v Sussex mud patch – ‘000s of supporters v 100) only serve to emphasise the underlying strength, adaptability but shared experience of the game.
A very few minutes into the game Velvet Turner had to retire with a leg injury to be replaced Lauren Duly.
Although conditions may not have been conducive to good handling, most of Heathfield’s points came from a willingness to keep the ball alive in hand. The coaches had suggested that the ball should be kept tight for the first few minutes but this did not happen in practice. Sophia Skinner and Britt Mole combined to win a turnover and good hands then allowed Megan Baker to finish on the left hand side for the opening score after ten minutes.
Heathfield continued to have majority possession and soon worked their way back into TJ's half. At one point a visitors’ player on her own try line attempted a clearance kick for touch but in the wet conditions the ball went barely a yard. Heathfield gathered the ball but the defenders did enough.
While Heathfield had the best of the rest of the half they did not threaten the try line again.
By half time weather conditions had calmed down. There was no more rain and very little wind. However the pitch, and most players, were now wet and muddy so handling was always difficult.
Neither side had an edge in the set piece although Steph Chipps is gaining increasing regard for her work in the tight and elsewhere.
Early in the second half Georgia Reed-Davies made a characteristic charge ball in hand, soon carried on by Amber Lovick. This resulted in a fine team try for Holly Brooks on the right wing (10-0). Reed-Davies and Lovick are proving increasingly effective big carriers in heavy traffic.
As an example of this, Reed-Davies soon made another strong carry but this time she incurred a nasty gash to her head while her tackler also had to retire from the game.
Approaching the last quarter Heathfield were generally pressing into the visitors’ half when a defensive kick was fielded by Brooks who needed no further encouragement to run back for a fine individual score on the right hand side, and her second on the day. (15-0) Heathfield have lacked real pace out wide recently but Brooks looks to have potential in that respect and can be developed.
Most of the following play was in the visitors’ half and Brooks went close in the right hand corner again but the cover defense did enough. However in the following phases quick ball found Caitlin Flower on a good line for the bonus point try.
Judds were far from daunted and had a good period of play but eventually the ball was turned over and Lovick took the ball on through a couple of tacklers near the half way line. In the absence of anyone running in support she ended up scoring a deserved but exhausting long range try to conclude the game.
Judds always competed well but ultimately Heatfield’s strength at close quarters took its toll in the last quarter. The visitors’ scrum half Bethany Harvey-Little was particularly picked out for her efforts on the day.
This result keeps Heathfield in a solid 4th place in this highly competitive NC 1 South league. The coaches are especially pleased with the defensive achievements recently with four clean sheets in a row.
Heathfield next visit Guernsey who are always difficult opponents at home (17 Dec 2.00)
Team
1 Amber Lovick 2 Hannah Wood 3 Stephanie Chipps 4 Velvet Turner 5 Clare Baker 6 Sophie Saunders 7 Rebecca Taylor 8 Georgia Reed-Davies 9 Liberty Lawrence 10 Caitlin Flower 11 Megan Baker 12 Sophia Skinner 13 Charleerose Chippett 14 Holly Brooks 15 Jasmin Lewis
Replacements
16 Kirsten McPhail 17 Hannah Overy 18 Lauren Duly 19 Poppy Eacott 20 Phoebe Morgan 21 Brittany Mole
Heathfield collected a bonus point home win over Tonbridge Juddians in what had initially seemed unlikely conditions for any game to happen.
Half an hour before the scheduled time many would have been surprised that a game was still being contemplated as heavy rain in a driving wind was making the so-called warmups a trial of survival. It was finally agreed, for the second day in a row, that the game would be played on Wilson-Rhodes.
This report is being written with the Racing92 v Harlequins European game on my tv. (Radio 3 in the background to add to the mix.) The different circumstances of the two games (all weather v Sussex mud patch – ‘000s of supporters v 100) only serve to emphasise the underlying strength, adaptability but shared experience of the game.
A very few minutes into the game Velvet Turner had to retire with a leg injury to be replaced Lauren Duly.
Although conditions may not have been conducive to good handling, most of Heathfield’s points came from a willingness to keep the ball alive in hand. The coaches had suggested that the ball should be kept tight for the first few minutes but this did not happen in practice. Sophia Skinner and Britt Mole combined to win a turnover and good hands then allowed Megan Baker to finish on the left hand side for the opening score after ten minutes.
Heathfield continued to have majority possession and soon worked their way back into TJ's half. At one point a visitors’ player on her own try line attempted a clearance kick for touch but in the wet conditions the ball went barely a yard. Heathfield gathered the ball but the defenders did enough.
While Heathfield had the best of the rest of the half they did not threaten the try line again.
By half time weather conditions had calmed down. There was no more rain and very little wind. However the pitch, and most players, were now wet and muddy so handling was always difficult.
Neither side had an edge in the set piece although Steph Chipps is gaining increasing regard for her work in the tight and elsewhere.
Early in the second half Georgia Reed-Davies made a characteristic charge ball in hand, soon carried on by Amber Lovick. This resulted in a fine team try for Holly Brooks on the right wing (10-0). Reed-Davies and Lovick are proving increasingly effective big carriers in heavy traffic.
As an example of this, Reed-Davies soon made another strong carry but this time she incurred a nasty gash to her head while her tackler also had to retire from the game.
Approaching the last quarter Heathfield were generally pressing into the visitors’ half when a defensive kick was fielded by Brooks who needed no further encouragement to run back for a fine individual score on the right hand side, and her second on the day. (15-0) Heathfield have lacked real pace out wide recently but Brooks looks to have potential in that respect and can be developed.
Most of the following play was in the visitors’ half and Brooks went close in the right hand corner again but the cover defense did enough. However in the following phases quick ball found Caitlin Flower on a good line for the bonus point try.
Judds were far from daunted and had a good period of play but eventually the ball was turned over and Lovick took the ball on through a couple of tacklers near the half way line. In the absence of anyone running in support she ended up scoring a deserved but exhausting long range try to conclude the game.
Judds always competed well but ultimately Heatfield’s strength at close quarters took its toll in the last quarter. The visitors’ scrum half Bethany Harvey-Little was particularly picked out for her efforts on the day.
This result keeps Heathfield in a solid 4th place in this highly competitive NC 1 South league. The coaches are especially pleased with the defensive achievements recently with four clean sheets in a row.
Heathfield next visit Guernsey who are always difficult opponents at home (17 Dec 2.00)
Team
1 Amber Lovick 2 Hannah Wood 3 Stephanie Chipps 4 Velvet Turner 5 Clare Baker 6 Sophie Saunders 7 Rebecca Taylor 8 Georgia Reed-Davies 9 Liberty Lawrence 10 Caitlin Flower 11 Megan Baker 12 Sophia Skinner 13 Charleerose Chippett 14 Holly Brooks 15 Jasmin Lewis
Replacements
16 Kirsten McPhail 17 Hannah Overy 18 Lauren Duly 19 Poppy Eacott 20 Phoebe Morgan 21 Brittany Mole
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