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Sun 18 Feb 2024 ·  Women's NC 1 South East (South)
Dartford Valley Ladies
Ladies 1st XV
29
24
Ladies denied by strong finishing Dartford
Philip Bell19 Feb - 08:01
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Dartford Valley Ladies 29 Heathfield Ladies 24
A stunning final quarter fightback by the Dartford Valley Ladies (DVL) side gave them a win which left Heathfield shaking their heads in disappointment. You shouldn’t lose a game from 5-24 up with twenty minutes remaining.
Earlier rain had cleared and conditions were fine on the all-weather surface with a variable breeze down the very slight slope. Heathfield started with a bang as an early scrum provided good front foot ball and skipper Carol Saunders worked her way over to open the scoring after a couple of minutes.
Strong carries by Amber Lovick (in her 50th game for the team) and Clare Baker kept pressure on the home side and soon afterwards Saunders was just denied by some desperate defence.
As indicated in the pre-match briefings, the referee was particularly strict on the quick release of the ball in the tackle. This is to be welcomed as it encourages a faster game. Both sides were duly punished although Heathfield probably suffered more in this respect.
More Heathfield pressure was temporarily eased by a timely interception by the DVL midfield but most of the game was in the home half.
Entering the second quarter Cat Moody was rightly binned for a high tackle. A few minutes later DVL were able to exploit the extra player and good hands produced a try on the right-hand side. (5-5)
Soon after the restart Brit Mole made a fine kick to collect a 50-22 which again put Heathfield on the front foot. At this stage the visitors’ big ball carriers were looking strong with Lovick, Steph Chipps, Hannah Overy and Abi Bandtock all making good yards.
However it was centre Baker who now made a decisive break in midfield and Becky Taylor was on hand to claim the try. (5-10)
At half time this looked a good contest between two evenly matched sides. Scrums were even while the wind, especially on the clubhouse side of the pitch, was making lineouts difficult.
Sophia Skinner who was standing in at fly half was having an effective game including some useful kicks.
Heathfield started the half brightly with an attack into the left hand corner just denied by a (high) cover tackle. A few minutes later Baker made another strong run through the midfield and this time finished under the posts, converted by Chip Chippett. Baker went on to make a number of dynamic runs which the home defence struggled to contain but she was never able to find supporting runners at the right moment.
At this stage Heathfield were still looking in control and it was no surprise when good hands put Merve Prestedge in for the bonus point try with 25 minutes left on the clock. (5-24)
However the last quarter belonged to DVL as they scored four tries. Explanations as to what happened are varied. Perhaps Heathfield became complacent and allowed DVL back into the game. The referee commented that maybe the big Heathfield ball carriers ran out of steam. Certainly DVL grew in confidence as their two strong second rows made increasingly effective yards. There was also some internal criticism of the Heathfield defensive organisation. Once a side has momentum this can be very difficult to reverse and DVL showed increasing confidence in the last few minutes with the winning try coming from a simple tap penalty at short range.
Heathfield at least collected two bonus points but the result still lifts DVL just above Heathfield in the league table.
It was also disappointing that Hannah Wood was unable to play today in what would have been her last game before moving to the US. She will be missed both on and off the pitch.
Heathfield now have two weeks off before welcoming Pulborough on 10th March. All of the remaining league games look winnable and combined with the RFU Intermediate Plate semi-final there could be a very positive end to the season.
Team
1. Hannah Overy 2. Poppy Eacott 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Amber Lovick 5. Steph Chipps 6. Cat Moody 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10. Sophia Skinner 11. Phoebe Morgan 12. Clare Baker 13. Chip Chippett 14. Merve Prestedge 15. Brit Mole
Replacements
16. Kirsten McPhail 17 Jade Fennell 18. Eleanor Robertson
Earlier rain had cleared and conditions were fine on the all-weather surface with a variable breeze down the very slight slope. Heathfield started with a bang as an early scrum provided good front foot ball and skipper Carol Saunders worked her way over to open the scoring after a couple of minutes.
Strong carries by Amber Lovick (in her 50th game for the team) and Clare Baker kept pressure on the home side and soon afterwards Saunders was just denied by some desperate defence.
As indicated in the pre-match briefings, the referee was particularly strict on the quick release of the ball in the tackle. This is to be welcomed as it encourages a faster game. Both sides were duly punished although Heathfield probably suffered more in this respect.
More Heathfield pressure was temporarily eased by a timely interception by the DVL midfield but most of the game was in the home half.
Entering the second quarter Cat Moody was rightly binned for a high tackle. A few minutes later DVL were able to exploit the extra player and good hands produced a try on the right-hand side. (5-5)
Soon after the restart Brit Mole made a fine kick to collect a 50-22 which again put Heathfield on the front foot. At this stage the visitors’ big ball carriers were looking strong with Lovick, Steph Chipps, Hannah Overy and Abi Bandtock all making good yards.
However it was centre Baker who now made a decisive break in midfield and Becky Taylor was on hand to claim the try. (5-10)
At half time this looked a good contest between two evenly matched sides. Scrums were even while the wind, especially on the clubhouse side of the pitch, was making lineouts difficult.
Sophia Skinner who was standing in at fly half was having an effective game including some useful kicks.
Heathfield started the half brightly with an attack into the left hand corner just denied by a (high) cover tackle. A few minutes later Baker made another strong run through the midfield and this time finished under the posts, converted by Chip Chippett. Baker went on to make a number of dynamic runs which the home defence struggled to contain but she was never able to find supporting runners at the right moment.
At this stage Heathfield were still looking in control and it was no surprise when good hands put Merve Prestedge in for the bonus point try with 25 minutes left on the clock. (5-24)
However the last quarter belonged to DVL as they scored four tries. Explanations as to what happened are varied. Perhaps Heathfield became complacent and allowed DVL back into the game. The referee commented that maybe the big Heathfield ball carriers ran out of steam. Certainly DVL grew in confidence as their two strong second rows made increasingly effective yards. There was also some internal criticism of the Heathfield defensive organisation. Once a side has momentum this can be very difficult to reverse and DVL showed increasing confidence in the last few minutes with the winning try coming from a simple tap penalty at short range.
Heathfield at least collected two bonus points but the result still lifts DVL just above Heathfield in the league table.
It was also disappointing that Hannah Wood was unable to play today in what would have been her last game before moving to the US. She will be missed both on and off the pitch.
Heathfield now have two weeks off before welcoming Pulborough on 10th March. All of the remaining league games look winnable and combined with the RFU Intermediate Plate semi-final there could be a very positive end to the season.
Team
1. Hannah Overy 2. Poppy Eacott 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Amber Lovick 5. Steph Chipps 6. Cat Moody 7. Becky Taylor 8. Carol Saunders 9. Lib Lawrence 10. Sophia Skinner 11. Phoebe Morgan 12. Clare Baker 13. Chip Chippett 14. Merve Prestedge 15. Brit Mole
Replacements
16. Kirsten McPhail 17 Jade Fennell 18. Eleanor Robertson
Further reading
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