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The South East came out with all guns blazing with penetrating runs from centre, Harriet Lamplugh de Smith and Lisa Miller. The visiting team made a solid platform of the ensuing scrum and Sarah Glasspool executed a text book No.8 pick up, powered through and scored, just 10 meters from the upright.
At this point the knowledgeable and supportive crowd thought the SE region would gallop away with this, the first of the seasons regional matches. However, despite the early score they showed a nervous and edgy start. The ball was dropped a number of times and the South East gave away too many penalties. Nevertheless, with a powerful pack, lead by Captain Alice Pettitt at hooker, the visitors won scrum after scrum and were able to set up a concrete base from which the backs could operate.
This forward pressure led to the South East’s second try of the day about 20 minutes in. From a maul, which turned into a ruck in the South’s 22, scrum half Victoria Claydon cleared the ball quickly and with good handling the backs moved the ball wide. Sam Campini looped round and took a tremendous pass from Bryony Simmons, dummied the open side winger to score. This try was cleanly converted by club teammate Liddie Terry.
The last period of the first half saw the South East with most of the possession, but weak rucking and unforced errors gave the ball away on a number of occasions. At the next breakdown, the ball was recycled and the pacey Victoria Perkins came into the line at just the right time, she flew past the gain line and offloaded superbly to the outside centre for her second try of the day. Liddie Terry narrowly missed the conversion by a whisker.
Just before half time the South East were again rewarded for determined pressure by the forwards and this time, winger Bryony Simmons spotted a huge gap and sprinted through it. She was almost held up but forced her way over for a converted try. Coach, Matt Mandelbaum made a few judicial substitutions, which motivated all the players to give even more.
The forwards were tremendous and Katie Smith had a stormer at loose head prop, continually ripping and driving and denying the home side possession and the South East deserved their 0-24 at the turn round.
The South made a few changes in the second half and their back row and strong fly half caused a bit of havoc. Despite the best efforts of the visitors’ back row, the South scored two tries within 20 minutes. The new players ran the SE defence ragged, but they did not yield. The backline covered very well, making try saving tackles. However, when the South were awarded another penalty the visiting defence ran out of steam and the home side scored their final unconverted try of the match in the dying minutes.
The South East Region can be very proud of their 15-24 win, and both squads took away a lot from this match.
South East Squad
Katie Smith, Alice Pettitt (C), Lisa Miller, Minty Meade, Sarah Beecham-Linton, Jade Binskin-Barnes, Heike Neimand, Sarah Glasspool (1T), Victoria Claydon, Frankie Newby, Liddie Terry (2C), Harriet Lamplugh de Smith (VC), Sam Campini (2T), Bryony Simmons (1T), Victoria Perkins, Holly Datlen, Jessica Gregory, Sarah Jones, Charlotte Keller, Abbie Moore, Sian Rees, Nichola Rousell, Kirsty Slimming, Gemma Warren.
Report by
Mrs Maggie Watts, U17 Regional Manager
Maggiewattswatson@btopenworld.com |
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