In this year's Gill Burns County Championship
Eastern Counties Women suffered the first defeat this season in a tough encounter away to table topping Leicestershire, despite playing arguably their best Rugby this campaign.
From the off Leicestershire showed how they were going to play the game using their powerful number 3 to punch holes in the ‘Counties defences, whilst the defence was good the visitors were penalised at the breakdown as they struggled acclimatise to the referee’s interpretation of the laws. This led however to two penalties in front of the posts which the home team duly converted taking an early 6-0 lead.
Unbowed ‘Counties scored the first try of the game which came courtesy of some direct running in the centres by Bury Foxes’ Maria Carpenter, with quick ball being released to Harwich Owls’ fly half Annalise Allan who moved the ball wide allowing West Norfolk Ladies' Georgie Lingham to draw and give a lovely soft pass to Bury Foxes’ Steph Hanratty who had the space to sprint to the line and score despite the attentions of two defenders.
‘Counties then took the lead with some powerful driving play by the forwards, with Wymondham Wasps Libby Lockwood to the fore, but it was Bury Foxes’ Natalie Palmer who powered her way to the line from 5m out driving through two tacklers to stretch and momentarily touch the try line with the ball, which was well spotted by the officials to score.
The visitors then fought back again using their powerful forwards, this time from a scrum 15m from the ‘Counties try line, the home side’s number 8 picking up and driving to the line to restore their early lead taking the score to 13-10.
‘Counties third and final try came as Leicestershire looked to take the ball through the midfield, however forward-of-the-match Harwich Owls’ Mimi Montgomery was having none of this and turned the ball over allowing Bury Foxes and Eastern Counties’ “pocket dynamo” Georgie Palmer the spot a gap and race to the line from half way to score an individual try, which along with her heroic defending earning her the double honour of best player, selected by the opposition team and ‘Counties back-of-the-match. This took the score to 13-15 with ‘Counties again taking the lead as the half time whilst was blown.
The second half was however an entirely different story with the home team in the ascendance, ‘Counties defence was brave and strong with Captain Stacey Hargrave leading the way with some massive hits. Despite a monumental effort by the whole squad ‘Counties were unable to keep the home team from scoring as their attack was relentless with two unconverted tries taking them 8 points clear at 23-15 a score that remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Eastern Counties Women play their final pool game of the Gill Burns Cup next week entertaining Cheshire Women at home, the game being played at West Norfolk RFC kick 2pm kick off.
TEAM
15 Georgie Lingham (West Norfolk Ladies), (Bury St Edmunds Foxes) Steph Hanratty 14, (Bury St Edmunds Foxes) Maria Carpenter 13, (Wodbridge Amazons) Claire Brickley Vice Capt 12, (Lakenham Ladies) Sonia Knowles 11, (Harwich Owls) Annalise Allan 10, (Bury St Edmunds Foxes) Georgie Palmer 9, 8 Sophia John (Bury St Edmunds Foxes) , 7 Lizzy Lockwood (Wymondham Wasps) , 6 Stacey Hargrave Capt (Royal Navy), 5 Mimi Montgomery (Harwich Owls), 4 Natalie Palmer (Bury St Edmunds Foxes), 3 Naomi Dobner (Harwich Owls), 2 Kaylee Williams (Bury St Edmunds Foxes), 1 Sami Rackman (Bury St Edmunds Foxes)
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Nikki Ramsdell (Bury Foxes), 17 Tekura Maeva (Lakenham Ladies), 18 Jasmin Clark (Bury Foxes), 19 Mary Hegarty (West Norfolk), 20 Holly Crook (Wymondham), 21 Stevie Farrow (Harwich Owls), 22 Florence Ann Wilkinson (Ipswich)
SCORERS: Steph Hanratty 1T, Natalie Palmer 1T, Georgie Palmer 1T
Forward of the match: Mimi Montgomery Back of the match: Goergie Palmer
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