Worcester a source of delight as Ladies edge it for victory
BY GEOFF LIGHTFOOT
AFTER two weekends without a Tyrells Premier 15s match, Firwood Waterloo Women made the relatively short trip to Sixways to take on Worcester Valkyries.
With their international players still away on duty, there was space in the replacements for several promising youngsters who have impressed in the Development side in recent weeks.
The visitors kicked off and Worcester dominated possession in the first five minutes but the visiting defence stood firm.
During this early period of Worcester pressure, Waterloo lost Number 8 Beth Stafford to injury, she was replaced by Storm Cobain.
Soon after this, Cobain broke through the line and neat interplay saw Waterloo move down the pitch.
The resulting pressure gained a penalty in the home 22 and Beth Stott stepped up to claim the 3 points.
Waterloo manoeuvred themselves into position to again take advantage of Worcester indiscipline which Stott again punished by kicking the points for 0-6.
From the restart, Waterloo failed to clear their lines and in the resulting melee, Serena Brymer was injured and had to leave the pitch.
This meant that 18-year-old debutant Christine Lawson was pressed into service and Waterloo had to reshuffle the back row for a second time.
Worcester took advantage of the scrum in the Waterloo 22 and moved the ball down the blind side.
Despite a last-ditch tackle by Jo Devine who held the Worcester 15 Carys Cox up, she subsequently managed to work an arm free to place the ball to score. Conversion was missed, 5-6.
Waterloo then applied themselves once again to the task and after good initial forward work found the blindside. Georgia Perris-Redding broke free to race 60m to score under the posts. Beth Stott added the conversion for 5-13.
Both sides continued to pressure each other, and Worcester finished the half with a penalty of their own.
Half-time 8-13
Waterloo started the second half the stronger and began to create problems for the home team – from a cross-field kick which the Worcester winger gathered, Jo Devine made a bone-crunching tackle which jarred the ball free for Vanessa Temple to regather and run in from 35 metres.
Again, Stott stepped up to convert 8-20.
The visitors continued to press and subsequently Worcester gave Stott another opportunity to kick a penalty. She duly obliged for 8-23.
It seemed that the game was starting to get away from the home side.
However, a determined rally saw them throw their bodies at the myrtle, scarlet and white wall and they began to make inroads towards the Loo tryline.
Their persistence paid off when, after resolute pressure, Worcester tight-head Lauren Leatherland crashed over from close range and Vicky Foxwell converted to narrow the score to an eight-point deficit.
Worcester were now in the ascendancy and began to take advantage of their possession.
Again, they pushed deep into the Waterloo 22 and Zoe Bennion scored for the home side.
Once again, Foxwell slotted the conversion to make it a onepoint game with eight minutes to go.
Both sides dug into their deepest reserves and Waterloo hooker Freya Hellin was forced to leave the field, making way for another 18-year-old debutant, Mollie Kelly.
Waterloo were once again forced to rearrange their back row when Alicia Calton was pressed into service as a flanker.
In the last five minutes both sides gave their all in order to secure the game, but with the clock ticking and Waterloo having a scrum put in, time was against the home team.
From the scrum, Waterloo number 8 Claire Hutchinson secured the ball and fed scrum half Rachel Porter who dispatched the ball into the main stand to end proceedings.
Firwood Waterloo defence coach and birthday boy, Rob Tilsley, was proud of his team’s performance.
He said: “A lot of our young developing players played really well, especially when called into action so early in the game”.
Captain Beth Stott added: “We made things difficult for ourselves but showed a lot of grit. We were determined not to let them score another and I’m so proud we held on for the win.
“We are prepared for a big week of training ready to face Richmond next Sunday”.