County duo double up as women get off to a flyer
EAST MIDLANDS WOMEN 17 WARWICKSHIRE WOMEN 24
WARWICKSHIRE Senior Women kicked off their 2022 campaign in the Gill Burns County Championship with a victory away to East Midlands.
An early score by East Midlands Women didn’t hamper their drive or spirit and some hard-worked forward play and attacking lines from the backs created space allowing Jo Hart to cross the line twice in relative succession, the first successfully converted by Katie Pittaway.
East Midlands fought back and drove Warwickshire into their 22 and after some solid rucking and scrums levelled the score at 12-12. With 12 minutes of the half remaining, Tami Agboola showed her speed and balance to cross the whitewash to give the visitors a five-point half-time lead. East Midlands equalised in the second-half, but Agboola was set free once more to score her second, converted by Pittaway, to establish a seven-point lead with 25 minutes remaining.
Both teams used their benches to strong effect to support the tiring bodies and efforts put into the game, both teams defending attacks well and preventing any further scores, with Warwickshire holding on to their seven-point lead until the final whistle sounded.
Gemma Weddell, Warwickshire Women’s manager and lead for Warwickshire Women’s and Girls Rugby said: “I was really happy with the team’s performance in the first round, and I’m looking forward to training this week so we can continue to build ahead of this into the second round this weekend at Barkers Butts RFC, home against Cheshire. “Please come and support the women in their campaign and we also have the under 15s county festival where we host Staffordshire, Leicestershire and North Midlands. It promises to be a great day of rugby!”
The Under-15 tournament starts at 12pm, the Warwickshire v Cheshire game kicks off at 2pm.
EAST MIDLANDS MEN WARWICKSHIRE MEN
WARWICKSHIRE men conceded two early tries but worked their way back into the game when Nic Potgieter dummied at the line out on the 22 to score under the posts which was converted by Kristian Powell.
Prop Ed Hopkins received a yellow card for a ruck infringement as the visitors went in at the break 15-7 down.
East Midlands added a penalty and a try after the break before Warwickshire hit back as Jaime Mapletoft pounced on a spilt ball to score with Dan O’brien adding the conversion.
The game slipped away for the visitors with the concession of two tries before Moses Liwaliwa struck back with a final try that was converted by Kristian Powell.
Head coach Stuart Friswell said: “All in all it was good to be back out there playing county rugby with 13 debuts.
“There’s still plenty to do in training to be ready for Staffordshire this Saturday away at Wolverhampton RFC.
“The lads are keen to put things right and we can’t wait for Saturday,” he added.
I was really happy with the team’s performance in the first round, and I’m looking forward to training this week. Gemma Weddell