Eastern Counties edge thrilling final

Eastern Counties..26 Hampshire .............. 19

EASTERN Counties won the Division 2 Cup courtesy of Sophia John’s 70th minute match winner, in what was a thrilling encounter with Hampshire.

The two scrum-halves, Hannah Kemish of Hampshire and Eastern Counties’ Georgina Palmer swapped early tries after taking quick taps from penalties.

Hampshire hooker Hannah Cole was then denied a try, with the referee ruling a double movement.

They were not denied for long though as from a good attacking position, a grubber from Hannah Wilson was dived on by Abi Harding, who touched down.

Eastern Counties then took the lead when with another penalty advantage, the Hampshire line was finally breached by Claire Phelps making it 14–12 at the break.

Almost 20 minutes of Hampshire pressure was finally rewarded when Tessa Down crashed over.

But Counties came back with John burrowing over. The missed conversion from Sian Fagg left the scores level.

However, John proved to be the match-winner, as she scored her second close-range try.

Hampshire laid siege in the final minutes but couldn’t find a way over.

TEAMS

EASTERN COUNTIES: Rose, Durrant, Smith, Houston, Gordon, Wong, Palmer, John, Fagg, Howell, Bradshaw, P Jones, Phelps, A. Jones, Wilmott

Replacements: Rumsey, Burridge, Clark, Zyka, Higgins, Burch, Chodorowski.

HAMPSHIRE: Fenn, Wadeson, Butler, Wharton, Hoadley, Wilson, Kemish, Graham, Cole, Weinfield, Rudd, Brown, Wilson, Harding, Bullock

Replacements: Davison, Rowlands, Down, Wilshire, Groves Sime, Gilson

REFEREE: Rebecca Piddlestone

Star player

Sam Wilmott - Eastern Counties