Heagerty and Waterloo target three in a row

FIRWOOD Waterloo might have won their last two games but coach Giles Heagerty has warned his team they will have to step it up a level to make it three in a row against Richmond at the Memorial Ground.

Both teams have had difficult starts to the season so far, with Firwood Waterloo winning three matches and Richmond being victorious just twice in nine matches.

But in the last round of fixtures, they both won extremely close encounters and in Waterloo’s case, gained a second consecutive victory.

Waterloo held on against a barrage of attacks from Worcester Valkyries to win 23-22 away from home, while Richmond pulled off a stunning comeback from 22-7 down at half-time to win 24-22 against Bristol Bears.

Given that momentum, there is every chance this should be a thrilling game, and Heagerty knows that his side cannot afford to make costly errors which almost denied them victory against the winless Valkyries.

He said: “Richmond will be a tough task this weekend.

“Whilst we showed a lot of grit last week to get the result, we made a lot of errors that we simply cannot afford to be making this week.”

Waterloo will be without their England international Sarah Beckett, who is absent through injury, while Irish international Lauren Delaney and Wales’ Lisa Neumann are both on enforced rest.

Richmond head coach Jonathan Griffin, has made minimal changes to his side with Cerys Lawrence coming in at blindside flanker, while Jade Wong is also back in the centres.