May 17th, 2006

England Women Select XV  12  British Police 14

An England Women’s Select XV narrowly missed out on finishing their season on a high with the boot of Charlie Goode kicking the British Police to a 14-12 victory at Imber Court on Wednesday night.

The British Police, a team fielding several current and former internationals including England’s Susie Appleby, Amy Garnett and Wales captain Dawn Mason, proved too strong for England’s young and up and coming stars but coach Andy Paton was left far from disappointed.

Paton said: “This was a fantastic squad performance against a well drilled and experienced outfit. Although we lost we ran in two good tries and that was pleasing to see.

“There was some great line-up work from the likes of Jo McGilchrist and Emma Layland and Sarah Hunter put in an outstanding performance. Overall this was a good game to end the season on with all the players learning a great deal from this experience.”

The boot of Goode initially put the Police ahead, but England soon went ahead when Worcester’s Alice Richardson executed a superb reverse kick to set-up Thirsk full-back Jo Watmore in the corner.

Richardson missed the conversion and with Goode adding a penalty and the Police running in a try just before the break the visitors went 11-5 up at the break.

But England bounced back with their second try on 60 minutes. It was a well deserved try created by some good work in the backs which saw young right wing Liz Tilley scoring in the corner.

With Richardson adding the conversion England went back into an 11-12 lead until the consistent boot of Goode added a last minute penalty to steal the win.

England Select XV

1 Katherine Smith (Kings College London, Richmond)
2 Emma Leyland (Richmond)
3 Tracey Balmer (Birmingham University, Worcester)
4 Jo McGilchrist (University of London, Wasps)
5 Claire Turner (University of Bristol)
6 Sarah Hunter (Loughborough University, Litchfield)
7 Gemma Sharples (University of Worcester, Worcester)
8 Sarah Beale (Leos)
9 Rachel Chidgey (Marjons)
10 Alice Lovett (University of Nottingham, Worcester)
11 Lucy Lynch (Loughborough University, Litchfield)
12 Alice Richardson (Birmingham University, Worcester)
13 Nancy Stone (Marjons)
14 Liz Tilley (Richard Huish College)
15 Jo Watmore (Durham and Houghall Academy, Thirsk)
Replacements:
16 Sarah White (Leeds University)
17 Helen Duffin (Marjons)
18 Amy Frost (Kings College London)
19 Terry McCormack (Marjons)
20 Sam Jamieson (Leeds Metropolitan University)
21 Abi Mowbray (Durham and Houghall Acadmey, Thirsk)
22 Tina Lee (Richmond)

ends…