Champion display
Tigers win national crown
» MONIQUE Coffey and Emma Hennessy both scored hat-tricks as Cheltenham Tigers won the National Championship title after their 47-10 play-off final win over Thurrock at Aylesbury RFC on Sunday.
The Tigers topped the North One division with 17 wins and a draw from their 18 matches, and faced South division winners Thurrock, who won 17 and lost one of their regular season games.
Cheltenham had beaten South runners-up Old Albanians 38-36 in a tight semi-final while Thurrock had a walkover against Lichfield, who finished second in the North division.
Cheltenham had lost to Thurrock in each of their three previous meetings in 2018 and 2019 but got off to a flying start with a try from Coffey, converted by Erin Caughey for an early 7-0 lead.
Hennessy, a Wales Six Nations squad member this season, was next to cross with the conversion missed as Cheltenham led 12-0 midway through the first half.
Coffey crossed again on 35 minutes with Caughey converting for a 19-0 lead at half-time, with Thurrock down to 14 after a yellow card.
Hennessy’s second try, converted by Caughey, got the second half off to an ideal start for the Tigers before Coffey completed her hat-trick on 52 minutes, Caughey adding the extras for a 33-0 advantage. Hennessy wasn’t to be outdone and completed her treble on the hour, Caughey converting, before Thurrock got on the board with 10 minutes left.
Izzie Mackinder scored the final try for the Tigers, converted by Caughey, before Thurrock scored a second of their own to complete the scoring.