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Sun 07 Jan 2024 · Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Ladies 1st XVFarnham Women
14
17
Farnham late finish decides close contest
Philip Bell8 Jan - 07:37
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Good defence undone by faulty options
Heathfield Ladies 14 Farnham Ladies 17
Farnham just edged this well-contested and often feisty NC1 league match but Heathfield will regard this as a missed opportunity for which the losing bonus point is scant consolation. Heathfield had narrowly won the reverse fixture at Farnham in September.
Conditions were arduous with temperatures barely above zero and a chill easterly breeze. The pitch was generally soft with a couple of seriously boggy patches but the players managed to rise above the conditions and tried to keep the ball alive.
Farnham started well and a home scrummage was turned over with the ball efficiently moved wide left, through a couple of less than convincing tackles for a good finish in the left hand corner with barely 2 minutes on the clock.
Heathfield had the better of the next few minutes and a charge down of a Farnham defensive kick kept them pinned back. A tap penalty on the visitors’ 22 approaching the quarter hour was well exploited and after a couple of phases Caitlin Flower charged over for the try, converted by Maya Champion.
However soon afterwards Champion was binned for a high tackle following several similar penalties and a team warning. For the second day in a row the referee applied the new tackle height law consistently and players need to modify their behaviour for everyone’s benefit.
Farnham were contesting well: their no 5 made a number of useful runs throughout the game keeping her team on the front foot. They now had a period of pressure in the home 22 resulting in Clare Baker being binned. However the home defence proved adequate even when one short.
Farnham retreated to the warmth of the changing room at half time while Heathfield stayed out. The home side started the second half strongly and soon established a good position in the top corner. However a tap penalty was then wasted as Amber Lovick charged into contact in the visitors’ 22 without any immediate support and was too easily isolated. Lovick retired hurt soon afterwards.
Nonetheless Heathfield continued to have more of the game and good hands saw Phoebe Morgan go close in the left hand corner but the cover defence just did enough. It soon looked as though this would not matter as Baker then stole a Farnham lineout and after a couple of phases Champion worked her way over for a fine try, which she duly converted. (14-5)
Approaching the last quarter Farnham were building up some pressure on the home 22 but the defence was generally working well. Then having worked through several phases on their own 22, Heathfield kicked which might have been a good option except that the ball went to the Farnham full back who was clearly the fastest player on the pitch. A try in the left hand corner duly arrived and even more impressively was converted to leave the score at 14-12.
The game was still fluctuating all over the pitch but as the minutes ticked down Farnham again built up some pressure into the home 22. Again the home defence was generally doing a sound job until another a relieving kick out of defence went straight to the visiting full back and again this resulted in a try in the left hand corner. (14-17)
In the few minutes remaining Heathfield threatened to snatch back a result but were handicapped by penalties at the breakdown. Then they moved quick ruck ball wide left and again Morgan was denied in the left hand corner by some desperate but effective cover tackles. The final whistle went soon afterwards.
Heathfield will be frustrated at having recovered from a soft early try and having worked their way into a winning position, then to hand easy opportunities to the opposition which duly cost them the game.
The home lineout worked effectively with Baker and Becky Taylor both doing well. After the initial scrum error, Heathfield held their own in that phase. Taylor had yet another outstanding game in all phases alongside her backrow colleague skipper Carol Saunders. Champion had a busy and often effective game so she will be missed as she soon departs travelling.
Next week Heathfield visit Guildford Gazelles who are the current unbeaten league leaders. (14 Jan 2.00)
Farnham just edged this well-contested and often feisty NC1 league match but Heathfield will regard this as a missed opportunity for which the losing bonus point is scant consolation. Heathfield had narrowly won the reverse fixture at Farnham in September.
Conditions were arduous with temperatures barely above zero and a chill easterly breeze. The pitch was generally soft with a couple of seriously boggy patches but the players managed to rise above the conditions and tried to keep the ball alive.
Farnham started well and a home scrummage was turned over with the ball efficiently moved wide left, through a couple of less than convincing tackles for a good finish in the left hand corner with barely 2 minutes on the clock.
Heathfield had the better of the next few minutes and a charge down of a Farnham defensive kick kept them pinned back. A tap penalty on the visitors’ 22 approaching the quarter hour was well exploited and after a couple of phases Caitlin Flower charged over for the try, converted by Maya Champion.
However soon afterwards Champion was binned for a high tackle following several similar penalties and a team warning. For the second day in a row the referee applied the new tackle height law consistently and players need to modify their behaviour for everyone’s benefit.
Farnham were contesting well: their no 5 made a number of useful runs throughout the game keeping her team on the front foot. They now had a period of pressure in the home 22 resulting in Clare Baker being binned. However the home defence proved adequate even when one short.
Farnham retreated to the warmth of the changing room at half time while Heathfield stayed out. The home side started the second half strongly and soon established a good position in the top corner. However a tap penalty was then wasted as Amber Lovick charged into contact in the visitors’ 22 without any immediate support and was too easily isolated. Lovick retired hurt soon afterwards.
Nonetheless Heathfield continued to have more of the game and good hands saw Phoebe Morgan go close in the left hand corner but the cover defence just did enough. It soon looked as though this would not matter as Baker then stole a Farnham lineout and after a couple of phases Champion worked her way over for a fine try, which she duly converted. (14-5)
Approaching the last quarter Farnham were building up some pressure on the home 22 but the defence was generally working well. Then having worked through several phases on their own 22, Heathfield kicked which might have been a good option except that the ball went to the Farnham full back who was clearly the fastest player on the pitch. A try in the left hand corner duly arrived and even more impressively was converted to leave the score at 14-12.
The game was still fluctuating all over the pitch but as the minutes ticked down Farnham again built up some pressure into the home 22. Again the home defence was generally doing a sound job until another a relieving kick out of defence went straight to the visiting full back and again this resulted in a try in the left hand corner. (14-17)
In the few minutes remaining Heathfield threatened to snatch back a result but were handicapped by penalties at the breakdown. Then they moved quick ruck ball wide left and again Morgan was denied in the left hand corner by some desperate but effective cover tackles. The final whistle went soon afterwards.
Heathfield will be frustrated at having recovered from a soft early try and having worked their way into a winning position, then to hand easy opportunities to the opposition which duly cost them the game.
The home lineout worked effectively with Baker and Becky Taylor both doing well. After the initial scrum error, Heathfield held their own in that phase. Taylor had yet another outstanding game in all phases alongside her backrow colleague skipper Carol Saunders. Champion had a busy and often effective game so she will be missed as she soon departs travelling.
Next week Heathfield visit Guildford Gazelles who are the current unbeaten league leaders. (14 Jan 2.00)
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