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Sun 13 Oct 2024
Medway
Ladies
21
19
Tries: L Lawrence, J Lewis, L McGeeConversions: M Plane (2)
Ladies misfire in North Kent
Philip Bell13 Oct - 19:09
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Three tries apiece but one conversion makes the difference
Medway Ladies 21 Heathfield Ladies 19
This was disappointing. Heathfield had a full squad in spite of several absences through injury and training has been going well. The final difference between the two sides was one conversion but Medway probably deserved the win on the balance of play.
Conditions were good with no significant breeze and a dry pitch taking a stud.
Heathfield started brightly and some early penalties helped them to move into the home 22. A tap penalty was worked through several pairs of hands before Lib Lawrence dived through a pile of bodies for the opening score. The conversion was missed which at this stage did not look important.
However Medway charged back and a few minutes later quick ball from a breakdown reached inside centre Caroline Jordan on the visitors 22 and she brushed through some ineffectual tackles to touch down under the posts, duly converted (7-5). Jordan was one of Medway’s strongest players and often exploited poor Heathfield tackling.
However Heathfield had rather the better of the next few minutes and had an extended period of play on the home try line. The home defence was just about holding out but finally the ball was moved wide right for Jas Lewis to touch down, well converted by Megan Plane.
Medway now showed that they were far from beaten with their big runners making good yards. With less than ten minutes remaining in the half full back Britt Mole was adjudged to have made a dangerous tackle on one of Medway’s big ball carriers and she was duly yellow carded. It is probably fair to say that the Heathfield coaches did not always agree with the referee’s interpretation of tackle height.
Abi Bandtock now had to retire with what initially seemed a painful and possibly serious arm injury. She had been going well in the scrummage and as a ball carrier so this was a concerning development. Thankfully she was patched up and was able to return later.
Play had become increasingly scrappy and it felt as though Heathfield had been sucked into a dogfight just when they wanted to play a more open game. In an earlier game this season Coach Dan Suggitt had been pleased with the synchronicity of the team but today they were misfiring.
Medway were unable to benefit from the extra player although much of the play was in the visitors 22 which was marked by a series of scrums following assorted handling errors by both sides.
Soon after Mole returned Medway collected their second try from short range with the conversion giving them the lead 14-12. Most of the play continued in the visitors’ half and entering the last quarter it took a fine last ditch tackle by Phoebe Morgan to deny the home side another try.
With just over ten minutes remaining Jordan collected her second try on the day with another strong run boshing through weak tackling.
Medway were still looking dangerous, pressing on the visitors try line when Laura McGee initiated a counter attack and then found Morgan who made a great run almost the length of the pitch. She was just tackled short of the line but impressively McGee was there in support and claimed the try. The conversion left a two point margin with very little time left on the clock.
Heathfield did now manage some good continuity through several phases but eventually the ball was nudged forward and the final whistle went.
Lauren Duly was the standout player for Heathfield on the day with repeated accurate and impactful tackles along with mostly securing her lineout ball. Georgia Reed-Davies and Morgan were also noted for their tackling.
Heathfield next week entertain Canterbury who were well beaten by Dartford Valley today but this league is producing some odd results so little can be deduced from this. It depends who turns up on the day – and today it was Medway.
Team 1. Hannah Overy 2. Poppy Eacott 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Velvet Turner 5. Georgia Reed-Davies 6 Carol Saunders 7. Lauren Duly 8 Caitlin Flower 9. Lib Lawrence 10 Megan Plane 11 Megan Baker 12 Sophia Skinner 13. Chip Chippett 14. Jasmin Lewis 15. Britt Mole
Replacements 16. Freya Gorringe 17. Charlene Croft 18. Eleanor Wiseman 19. Laura McGee 20. Phoebe Morgan 21. Ellie Phillipse 22. Bethany Suggitt
This was disappointing. Heathfield had a full squad in spite of several absences through injury and training has been going well. The final difference between the two sides was one conversion but Medway probably deserved the win on the balance of play.
Conditions were good with no significant breeze and a dry pitch taking a stud.
Heathfield started brightly and some early penalties helped them to move into the home 22. A tap penalty was worked through several pairs of hands before Lib Lawrence dived through a pile of bodies for the opening score. The conversion was missed which at this stage did not look important.
However Medway charged back and a few minutes later quick ball from a breakdown reached inside centre Caroline Jordan on the visitors 22 and she brushed through some ineffectual tackles to touch down under the posts, duly converted (7-5). Jordan was one of Medway’s strongest players and often exploited poor Heathfield tackling.
However Heathfield had rather the better of the next few minutes and had an extended period of play on the home try line. The home defence was just about holding out but finally the ball was moved wide right for Jas Lewis to touch down, well converted by Megan Plane.
Medway now showed that they were far from beaten with their big runners making good yards. With less than ten minutes remaining in the half full back Britt Mole was adjudged to have made a dangerous tackle on one of Medway’s big ball carriers and she was duly yellow carded. It is probably fair to say that the Heathfield coaches did not always agree with the referee’s interpretation of tackle height.
Abi Bandtock now had to retire with what initially seemed a painful and possibly serious arm injury. She had been going well in the scrummage and as a ball carrier so this was a concerning development. Thankfully she was patched up and was able to return later.
Play had become increasingly scrappy and it felt as though Heathfield had been sucked into a dogfight just when they wanted to play a more open game. In an earlier game this season Coach Dan Suggitt had been pleased with the synchronicity of the team but today they were misfiring.
Medway were unable to benefit from the extra player although much of the play was in the visitors 22 which was marked by a series of scrums following assorted handling errors by both sides.
Soon after Mole returned Medway collected their second try from short range with the conversion giving them the lead 14-12. Most of the play continued in the visitors’ half and entering the last quarter it took a fine last ditch tackle by Phoebe Morgan to deny the home side another try.
With just over ten minutes remaining Jordan collected her second try on the day with another strong run boshing through weak tackling.
Medway were still looking dangerous, pressing on the visitors try line when Laura McGee initiated a counter attack and then found Morgan who made a great run almost the length of the pitch. She was just tackled short of the line but impressively McGee was there in support and claimed the try. The conversion left a two point margin with very little time left on the clock.
Heathfield did now manage some good continuity through several phases but eventually the ball was nudged forward and the final whistle went.
Lauren Duly was the standout player for Heathfield on the day with repeated accurate and impactful tackles along with mostly securing her lineout ball. Georgia Reed-Davies and Morgan were also noted for their tackling.
Heathfield next week entertain Canterbury who were well beaten by Dartford Valley today but this league is producing some odd results so little can be deduced from this. It depends who turns up on the day – and today it was Medway.
Team 1. Hannah Overy 2. Poppy Eacott 3. Abi Bandtock 4. Velvet Turner 5. Georgia Reed-Davies 6 Carol Saunders 7. Lauren Duly 8 Caitlin Flower 9. Lib Lawrence 10 Megan Plane 11 Megan Baker 12 Sophia Skinner 13. Chip Chippett 14. Jasmin Lewis 15. Britt Mole
Replacements 16. Freya Gorringe 17. Charlene Croft 18. Eleanor Wiseman 19. Laura McGee 20. Phoebe Morgan 21. Ellie Phillipse 22. Bethany Suggitt
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