April 5th, 2006
England Women Six Nations Grand Slam winners will be back in action this Sunday with the return of the highly successful Super League series.
Super League, a competition designed to provide a high level of intense competition which consistently tests the skills of the country’s top 90 England eligible players, returns to Moseley RFC with Nottingham-based Thunder taking on Harpenden-based Hurricanes at 12pm. The Stormers, based in Gloucestershire, will then take on the London-based Tornadoes at 1.45pm.
The Hurricanes have survived all weathers so far, topping the table as they go into round three. The Hurricanes, coached by England A head coach Amanda Bennett, have so far inflicted a 19-15 defeat on the Stormers and earned a gripping 10-10 draw against Thunder. With six points they head the league ladder, but the Tornadoes and Stormers sit just one point adrift and both will be looking to turn the tables this weekend.
Bennett said: “After two rounds the series is clearly unfolding as a tough competition that provides an opportunity for players to experience fast and skillful rugby at a higher level. It is also providing some great rugby entertainment with tight games and close finishes.
“My team is currently top but we know it is going to get tougher. With individual and unit head to heads as well as the status of top team after three games I have no doubt both teams will be fired up and it will provide a spectacle for the spectators. Naturally a Hurricanes victory is predicted as the only undefeated team in Super League so far!”
Thunder team (coaches by Graham Smith, England assistant coach):
1 Rochelle Clark (Henley), 2 Ollie Poore (Lichfield), 3 Isabel Howard (Vale of Lune), 4 Becky Essex (Worcester), 5 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk), 6 Kerry Barber (Worcester), 7 Lois Moulding (Worcester), 8 Sarah Beale (Leo’s), 9 Abi Mowbray (Thirsk), 10 Katie McLean (Thirsk), 11 Lucy Lynch (Lichfield),12Shauna Vetch (Thirsk), 13 Ellen Small (Waterloo), 14 Nicky Crawford (Worcester), 15 Jo Watmore (Thirsk). Replacements: 16 Sarah White (Leo’s), 17 Roz Crawley (Lichfield), 18 Hannah Shields (Thirsk), 19 Ali Stevens (Lichfield), 20 TBC, 21 Alice Lovett (Lichfield), 22 Debbie Mason (Lichfield).
Tornadoes team (coach by Geoff Richards, England coach):
1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Selena Rudge (Wasps), 3 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), 4 Jenny Lyne (Richmond), 5 Jo McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Shannon Baker (Richmond), 7 Maggie Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Karen Jones (C) (Wasps), 9 Susie Appleby (Worcester), 10 Shelley Rae (Wasps), 11 Sarah Wakeford (Richmond), 12 Nicky Meston, 13 Sue Day (VC) (Wasps), 14 Sarah Marsh (Wasps), 15 Kim Shaylor (Worcester). Replacements: 16 Clare Steer (Worcester), 17 Hannah Farquarson (Richmond), 18, 19, 20 all TBC, 21 Sally Wise (Saracens), 22 Tina Lee (Richmond)
Stormers team (coach by Gary Street, RFUW Academy coach):
1 Sophie Hemming (Clifton), 2 Emma Layland (Richmond), 3 Katy Storie (Clifton) (C), 4 Natalie Binstead (Wasps), 5 Rachael Vickers (Richmond), 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton), 7 Sonia Green (Saracens), 8 Catherine Spencer (Folkeston), 9
Danielle Waterman (Henley), 10 Alice Richardson (Worcester), 11 Emily Cooke (Clifton), 12 Kim Oliver (Clifton), 13 Claire Allan (Worcester), 14 Amber Penrith (Worcester), 15 George Roberts (Avon). Replacements: 16 Katy Whyte (Worcester), 17 Tracy Balmer (Worcester), 18 Helen Durman (Saracens), 19 Terri Cormack (Plymouth Albion), 20 George Rozario (Avon), 21 Nancy Stone (Henley), 22 Anna Shepherd (Plymouth Albion)
Hurricanes team (coached by Amanda Bennett, England A coach):
1 Vanessa Gray (Wasps), 2 Amy Garnett (Saracens), 3 Maxine Edwards (Saracens), 4 Jo Nicholson (Welbeck College), 5 Jenny Sutton (Richmond), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Helen Clayton (C) (Saracens), 8 Leah Carey (Lichfield), 9 Louise Seymour (Saracens), 10 Karen Andrew (Saracens), 11 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield), 12 Amy Turner (Wasps), 13 Karena Page (Old Albanians), 14 Clare Davies (St. Mary’s College), 15 Vicky Massarella (Saracens). Replacements: 16 Sam Dale (Earlsdon), 17 Mel McKenzie (Henley), 18 Emma Dresser (Lichfield), 19 Emily Ryall (Saracens), 20 Sarah Gardner (Loughborough University)
Super League table:
Hurricanes 6
Tornadoes 5
Stormers 5
Thunder 2
Super League fixtures:
Sun 9th April Thunder v Hurricanes Moseley RFC, 12pm
Sun 9th April Stormers v Tornados Moseley RFC, 1.45pm
Fri 28th April Thunder v Stormers Sale RFC (TBC)
Sun 30th April Hurricanes v Tornados Wasps (TBC)
Sun 13th May Stormers v Hurricanes Twickenham (TBC)
Sun 14th May Tornados v Thunder Moseley RFC, 1.45pm
Please note: Venues and kick-off times could change, so check out www.rfu.com for all the latest fixtures.
Ends…
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