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Sun 11 Feb 2024 · Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Horsham Women
Ladies 1st XV
40
15
Ladies eventually give best to speedy Horsham backs
Philip Bell11 Feb - 21:31
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Horsham Ladies 40 Heathfield Ladies 15
Horsham Ladies were eventually comfortable winners by six tries to three in this NC 1 league match played on the all-weather surface at Horsham.
Earlier in the season Horsham had won 5-42 at Heathfield. Today’s score line suggests a slight improvement but in fact in the first half this was a very even contest. And ten minutes into the second half at three tries apiece an unlikely result appeared just possible before the home side’s overall strength out wide paid off.
Heathfield started brightly and a penalty provided a good attacking position in the right hand corner. From the resulting lineout Lib Lawrence was held up but the home side quickly took the drop out, recovered the ball and then found one of their speedy backs for a decent long range score.
While the home back division always looked dangerous their lineout was looking shaky and the visitors now ruined two home lineouts. Together with a strong carry by Amber Lovick this resulted in a good attacking ruck just 10 yards out but the wrong option was chosen and the chance was gone.
Nonetheless Heathfield were on the front foot and good scrum ball was now worked through several phases before Caitlin Flower worked her way over.
However the restart was dropped which allowed the home side to establish good position in the visitors 22. Gradually Heathfield worked their way upfield and had reached halfway when the ball was turned over and good hands combined with pace gave the home side another try under the posts.
Cat Moody replaced Clare Baker and made some strong contributions while Hannah Overy came on for the injured Hannah Wood.
In the last minutes of the half Heathfield again attacked into the top right hand corner, followed by a scrum in the opposite corner and after a couple of phases Abi Bandtock worked her way over for a well-deserved try. Bandtock had a good contest against her opposite number but also made a number of useful carries.
The half time score of 14-10 reflected a close game thus far. With the very slight slope and a little breeze to come in their favour Heathfield will have been hopeful of securing an unlikely result.
This was immediately quashed as Horsham used a tap penalty to bosh through some less than impressive tackling for another long range try.
Heathfield now had their best period of the game with consistent position and possession in the home half. One good chance into the left hand corner was spoilt when the lineout was penalised for a technical error. Lovick, Bandtock and Flower were all noted with strong carries in this period.
It was no surprise when from a tap penalty Flower worked her way over for her second try (21-15). The difference in the score at this point was down to the three conversions by the home side. The Heathfield tries had all been hard-earned through forward work often out wide while the home tries were longer-range efforts ending under the post.
There was now an incident that seems to have been the pivotal point in the contest. A Horsham player was binned for a kick to Heathfield’s Baker who had rejoined the contest. However Baker was also binned in the same incident for some reason which confused, many not least Baker.
The game now became somewhat feisty as Horsham charged forward and a strong runner was tackled by Moody under the posts. While the ball carrier clearly dropped the ball in trying to touch down, Moody was adjudged to have made a high tackle and therefore a penalty try was awarded along with a yellow for Moody. This gave Horsham their bonus point fourth try.
Again Heathfield showed that they do not lack spirit with more persistent pressure into the home half. A few minutes later this resulted in a yellow for a home flanker for a high tackle on Flower who had to retire hurt. She had been having a strong game to that point with useful runs and some impactful tackles.
On a couple of occasions good chances for the visitors just went astray as their normally good handling let them down.
In the last few minutes Horsham scored two long range tries including one by their always dangerous outside centre who had caused Heathfield problems in the earlier fixture between these teams.
The result is consistent with the relative positions in the league table but Heathfield will nonetheless feel disappointed not to have done better on the day. There will certainly be some concentration in training this week on the lineout which misfired on several key moments today. The side has improved over the season but clearly there are areas for significant improvement.
Next Sunday Heathfield are again on the road as they visit Dartford Valley who also have an all-weather surface. (18 Feb 2.00)
Squad 1. Steph Chipps 2. Hannah Wood 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Amber Lovick 5. Clare Baker 6. Lauren Duly 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10 Caitlin Flower 11. Britt Mole 12. Sophia Skinner 13 Chip Chippett 14. Merve Prestedge 15 Megan Baker-Butler 16. Hannah Overy 17 Cat Moody 18 Phoebe Morgan
Earlier in the season Horsham had won 5-42 at Heathfield. Today’s score line suggests a slight improvement but in fact in the first half this was a very even contest. And ten minutes into the second half at three tries apiece an unlikely result appeared just possible before the home side’s overall strength out wide paid off.
Heathfield started brightly and a penalty provided a good attacking position in the right hand corner. From the resulting lineout Lib Lawrence was held up but the home side quickly took the drop out, recovered the ball and then found one of their speedy backs for a decent long range score.
While the home back division always looked dangerous their lineout was looking shaky and the visitors now ruined two home lineouts. Together with a strong carry by Amber Lovick this resulted in a good attacking ruck just 10 yards out but the wrong option was chosen and the chance was gone.
Nonetheless Heathfield were on the front foot and good scrum ball was now worked through several phases before Caitlin Flower worked her way over.
However the restart was dropped which allowed the home side to establish good position in the visitors 22. Gradually Heathfield worked their way upfield and had reached halfway when the ball was turned over and good hands combined with pace gave the home side another try under the posts.
Cat Moody replaced Clare Baker and made some strong contributions while Hannah Overy came on for the injured Hannah Wood.
In the last minutes of the half Heathfield again attacked into the top right hand corner, followed by a scrum in the opposite corner and after a couple of phases Abi Bandtock worked her way over for a well-deserved try. Bandtock had a good contest against her opposite number but also made a number of useful carries.
The half time score of 14-10 reflected a close game thus far. With the very slight slope and a little breeze to come in their favour Heathfield will have been hopeful of securing an unlikely result.
This was immediately quashed as Horsham used a tap penalty to bosh through some less than impressive tackling for another long range try.
Heathfield now had their best period of the game with consistent position and possession in the home half. One good chance into the left hand corner was spoilt when the lineout was penalised for a technical error. Lovick, Bandtock and Flower were all noted with strong carries in this period.
It was no surprise when from a tap penalty Flower worked her way over for her second try (21-15). The difference in the score at this point was down to the three conversions by the home side. The Heathfield tries had all been hard-earned through forward work often out wide while the home tries were longer-range efforts ending under the post.
There was now an incident that seems to have been the pivotal point in the contest. A Horsham player was binned for a kick to Heathfield’s Baker who had rejoined the contest. However Baker was also binned in the same incident for some reason which confused, many not least Baker.
The game now became somewhat feisty as Horsham charged forward and a strong runner was tackled by Moody under the posts. While the ball carrier clearly dropped the ball in trying to touch down, Moody was adjudged to have made a high tackle and therefore a penalty try was awarded along with a yellow for Moody. This gave Horsham their bonus point fourth try.
Again Heathfield showed that they do not lack spirit with more persistent pressure into the home half. A few minutes later this resulted in a yellow for a home flanker for a high tackle on Flower who had to retire hurt. She had been having a strong game to that point with useful runs and some impactful tackles.
On a couple of occasions good chances for the visitors just went astray as their normally good handling let them down.
In the last few minutes Horsham scored two long range tries including one by their always dangerous outside centre who had caused Heathfield problems in the earlier fixture between these teams.
The result is consistent with the relative positions in the league table but Heathfield will nonetheless feel disappointed not to have done better on the day. There will certainly be some concentration in training this week on the lineout which misfired on several key moments today. The side has improved over the season but clearly there are areas for significant improvement.
Next Sunday Heathfield are again on the road as they visit Dartford Valley who also have an all-weather surface. (18 Feb 2.00)
Squad 1. Steph Chipps 2. Hannah Wood 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Amber Lovick 5. Clare Baker 6. Lauren Duly 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10 Caitlin Flower 11. Britt Mole 12. Sophia Skinner 13 Chip Chippett 14. Merve Prestedge 15 Megan Baker-Butler 16. Hannah Overy 17 Cat Moody 18 Phoebe Morgan
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