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Match report: SCRFC Ladies Development vs Thamesians Ladies

Match report: SCRFC Ladies Development vs Thamesians Ladies

Millie Ross12 Nov 2018 - 15:11
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As all eyes were on Twickenham, the ladies development team blooded some new players in a hard fought fixture.

With England taking on New Zealand on Saturday, the Streatham-Croydon ladies development side also made the journey to Twickenham on Sunday. Thamesians Ladies are a newly created side, who have had a successful run of form in 7s tournaments this summer and are playing their first season as a 15s side. It became apparently early on in the game that they were using their 7s skills and turn of pace that Streatham struggled to contain.

Streatham-Croydon had many players playing on debut for the development side, as well as a few players returning to the team after some time away from 1st team games. The new half back pairing took a little bedding in, with captain Rosie Carr putting in a strong performance in her first outing at scrum half, usually more practiced throwing into the line out than passing from the back of a ruck. Sterling defensive efforts from Ceri Buck and Shannon, another player who has joined us from the linked Chichester University - the source of many points in the past for the team - managed to contain the slick hands from Thamesians. On the flank, returning player and Junior Girls coach Catherine Kingston was looking after the blind channel well and put in some huge hits that belied her size.

Huge carries in the forwards were threatening the try line, including one brilliant run from Ellie Wright which was deemed to be held up over the try line. With strong defensive pressure the score was only 12-0 at half time and Streatham were very much still in the game. It was clear that the match would be won in the forwards, and there were some incredible carries Daisy Leach and Jas Ball that threatened the line, which was eventually punctured by substitute Helena Solomon, and converted by Ana O’Connor. Some loose ball in the backs was tidied up well by Kimmy Bennett and debut outside centre Lisa Schulz in her first ever game of rugby.

Streatham’s pack were dominating the scrums, turning over the majority of the Thameisans’ ball, however it was not enough as a lack of experience playing together saw some disorganisation in attack and despite being camped in the Thamesian 22, a few breakaway tries caused a scoreline that didn’t represent the closeness of the fixture. SCRFC will be frustrated that they weren't able to capitalise on a few penalties against Thamesians for offside in the final few minutes which would have led to a fairer reflection of the game.

Development captain Rosie Carr and VC Amy Allen will be pleased to see the improvement in the team against a well drilled 1st XV, and with more training together, there is a great platform for their next game on December 2nd.

The ladies 1st XV have an important month ahead. This Sunday (18th November) they travel to bottom of the league Millwall, before hosting top of the league Sutton & Epsom on 25th November. On 9th December they begin their return fixtures, hosting 2nd placed Hackney, and the last game before Christmas will be at home on 16th December against Battersea Ironsides in the 3rd round of the Intermediate Cup.

Forward of the match: Daisy Leach
Back of the match: Lisa Schulz
Scorers: Helena Solomon (1T), Ana O’Connor (1C)

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