Bellhouse helps stop the RAF fightback

A DOMINANT second half from the Army Women earned them the Inter Service Championship title at Kingsholm after 21 unanswered points in the second half.

Converted tries from player of the match Sally Bellhouse, Heidi Silcox, and team captain, former Wales international Jade Mullen, saw the Army overcome a Royal Air Force outfit which had the better of the opening exchanges.

England international Amy Cokayne was back in the RAF line-up after completing her Six Nations duties, Wales international Carys Williams-Morris showed her class at full-back, and scrum-half Lucy Nye led by example.

The RAF’s approach yielded a 19-5 lead, Williams-Morris turning on the afterburners for the pick of the tries. Cokayne also scored, along with Kathryn Robinson.

Sarah Batley had replied for the Army, but with two tries from winger, Hannah Gilmour, the red shirts were well in the hunt going into the break at 19-17.

After withstanding early pressure in the second half, the Army went up to the other end for Bellhouse’s score, with Mullen’s tries take the contest away from the RAF.

Skipper Mullen acknowledged the impact of the try which brought the half-time whistle.

“We let the pressure get to us at the start,” she said. “It was about settling into the game and we knew we could come back if we believed in ourselves, which we did.”

RAF head coach John Wilding did not get the send-off he wanted for his final game in charge, but was proud of his team. He said: “It was two competitive teams playing a good brand of rugby – I couldn’t be prouder.

“You’ve got to give the Army credit. At 19-5 we’d played all the rugby, but the Army punched in two tries with the turning point coming after halftime.”