Beckenham Ladies duly completed their season in Championship 2 with a bonus point win over Heathfield Ladies who in a game in January were the only team to defeat them in the league season. Beckenham will therefore return to Championship 1 as decisive winners of this league and this was duly celebrated at the end.
Heathfield acknowledge that the home side were deserved winners of today’s contest but were disappointed in their own performance as they were unable to maintain the standard of execution that is needed at this level. There were times today when the outcome was uncertain but chances were missed and errors were made.
Conditions were good on a mostly sunny, warmish day with a very firm pitch with patchy grass cover. There were plentiful bruises and bloody knees afterwards. A flaky, occasionally gusty wind was not a significant factor.
Beckenham started strongly helped by some early Heathfield tackling that was less than optimal. Nonetheless having survived the initial pressure Heathfield broke out from their own half through Britt Mole and Chip Chippett, only for the potentially try-scoring pass to be adjudged forward. I was level and it was a close call.
Generally Beckenham had more possession and position at this point. Approaching the end of the first quarter a tap penalty was moved across the pitch leading to a period of pressure on the visitors’ try line and eventually they worked their way over from short range. The conversion came back off the upright.
Ten minutes later a similar sequence ended with the same outcome – a try on the right hand side for Beckenham, again unconverted.
Heathfield had the better of the last few minutes of the half with Dave Flower in particular making useful ground ball in hand. A penalty provided a good attacking lineout but it was botched. Almost immediately another penalty could have led to a similar opportunity but the kick went dead. Two missed chances.
Neither side dominated the set piece although Heathfield started to gain an edge in the scrummage in the second half. Both team’s lineouts were occasionally fallible with Lauren Duly nicking several Beckenham throws at the front, and she also made some useful carries.
The penalty count in the first half was 11-5 against the home side. This was almost exactly reversed in the second half. Apart from one warning to Beckenham for high tackles there was no hint of a card. The commonest offence seemed to be not releasing in the tackle which was consistently enforced and helped to keep the game open.
The second half started with more Heathfield pressure as they were securing and retaining possession better. One promising attack into the right hand corner was ended by a holding on penalty. Beckenham charged back and chose to try for three points from a penalty but the kick went wide.
The game was now more evenly contested. A good run started by Mole and carried on by Flower put the home side on the back foot and led to some consistent pressure in the home half, helped by the increasingly strong scrummage. Solid lineout ball was moved into midfield where skipper Carol Saunders boshed her way through several tackles and worked her way over under the posts. Megan Plane duly converted.
At 10-7 the game was very much there for the taking. In the event it was Beckenham who seized the moment as they scored three more tries, two converted, to run out comfortable winners. Two of their tries were from short range but this was the product of their having consistent possession. Their back line always looked dangerous with the outside centre Morgan Freeman being especially useful.
Afterwards, while acknowledging that Beckenham were deserved winners, there was a feeling of frustration that the side had not produced the standard of play of which they are capable. Several players mentioned Mole for her tackling which helped minimise the damage on the day. Sophia Skinner and Georgia Reed-Davies were also noted for strong contributions.
Fortunately Heathfield have one more league game so they can hopefully end the season on a positive note when Hampstead visit Cross In Hand for the first time next Saturday (25 Apr 2.30). Note that this is on Saturday not Sunday and that the Harriers have a league game against Burgess Hill earlier on the same day – ko time to be confirmed. Both games will be on the pitch outside the clubhouse. The club is laying on a lunch for supporters at £20 per head, all welcome – tickets available from the clubhouse.