Yorkshire Ladies Regional Programme Match Report:
Sunday 5th February: Yorkshire Ladies 31-5 East Midlands
Linsay Munr 4 tries
Charlene Henegan: 1 try
Sally Evans: 3 conversions
Yorkshire travelled to Coalville Rugby Club in Leicester to play this eagerly awaited first game of the 2006 senior ladies Regional programme. The match was played on Coalville’s first team pitch, which was in excellent condition, and the weather was perfect for rugby.
The match began at a ferocious pace right from the first whistle and, perhaps due to nerves, there were a lot of unforced errors by both sides. Yorkshire was, the first team to settle into the match and establish their rhythm and after only a few passages of play and excellent recycling from the forwards the ball was moved wide to the backs and outside centre, Linsay Munro, was the first to score a try for Yorkshire. Soon after, due to some great vision from Fly Half Sally Evans, JoWard set Charlene Henegan up for the second try of the day. Sally Evans converted.
It was a keenly contested match in the forwards with East Midlands having the larger pack, however, Yorkshire’s forwards performed well under pressure in the scrums and held there own in the lineouts. Due to some very sharp defensive work by the Yorkshire back row of Rachel Broadhurst, Sian Hills, Cat Morgan, Laura Bates and man of the match Scrum Half, Karli Wilkinson, Yorkshire managed to remain in possession for long periods of the game which allowed Linsay Munro to score her second try of the day; a well worked grubber kick which she then regathered herself in order to touch down. Towards the end of the first half East midlands came more into the game creating chances, and breaking the Yorkshire line three times only to be snuffed out by the excellent defence of Full Back, Cara Evans. After continued pressure and a barrage of forward drives, Yorkshires strong defence was breached and, East Midlands crossed the line to score their first try, the conversion failed.
The second half was an even more closely contested affair, brutal at times, and due to the injuries of key experienced players, such as Becky Leach and Cat Morgan, Yorkshire’s lineouts began to struggle as East Midlands stepped up their game. Captain Rachael Broadhurst saved lots of ball for Yorkshire and the remaining forwards managed to pull together to make up for the loss of key players, with everyone working hard in defence and supporting the ball carrier all over the park the Yorkshire team were able to snuff out any East Midland threats.
Although East Midlands had a fantastic second half, thanks to a lot of intelligent backs’ play and unseen hard work from Sarah Burdette, Vicky De-Val and Jenni Pollington. Yorkshire managed to remain in possession for the majority of the game and finish with one final touch down from try-scoring machine Linsay Munro.The whole Yorkshire squad played there part in what was a gripping match, played in great spirits by both teams and a fantastic showpiece for women’s rugby. |
