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National 1 | Wham, Sian, thank you Ma'am! Furniss hat-trick hero as Broughton wow against Howe

National 1 | Wham, Sian, thank you Ma'am! Furniss hat-trick hero as Broughton wow against Howe

Mark Brown7 Feb 2022 - 22:10
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Broughton Women got back to winning ways with a 24-22 victory over Howe of Fife in bitterly cold conditions at Wardie.

Despite the dipping temperatures and the deceivingly blue North Edinburgh sky, there was a decent turnout on the touchline for the clash as Broughton looked to gain revenge for the defeat at Duffus Park earlier in the season.

It didn’t look overly promising after just four minutes on the clock, with the tourists from Cupar opening the scoring courtesy of play-maker Phoebe Saunders who pirouetted her person out of the grasp of the last line of Broughton defence to land on the line and dot the ball down.

Heading down the slope in the first half, Broughton sought to redress the early scoreline imbalance and within four minutes, they’d drawn level. Lauren Park pinning back the ears and pulling off her trademark sprint technique to race into the corner.

The pendulum was to swing in Broughton’s favour shortly after when the ball worked it’s way out to Sian Furniss on the wing and the pacey full back wasn’t for stopping as she waltzed in behind the posts to give her side a lead they weren’t to surrender.

Whilst there was now a points advantage between the sides, there was to be a numerical deficit when Referee Allana McLean offered Hannah Taylor a ten minute breather although the back rower ‘took one for the team’ after a trio of transgressions by the hosts.

Howe were to benefit from the extra player and it was Centre Emma Wood who had the easiest of run-ins to get the visitors back in the game.

Once parity was restored however, it was Sian Furniss who got her second of the afternoon after winning the foot-race against her opposite number Kelle Nicol in what was a fascinating ding-dong between the two talented players throughout.

It was then the Cupar side’s turn to find themselves reduced to 14 when Becky Smith was sent to the sidelines after a high tackle on Kirsty Fraser.

However, that didn’t deter them and as the metaphorical half time oranges were calling, Sally Bousie was in a hurry to grab a try and Saunders added the extras to make it 17-17 at the break.

HT: Broughton 17-17 Howe of Fife

The second half was just five minutes old when Broughton poked their noses back in front.
Sian Furniss fought like a terrier to steal the ball at a ruck on the half way line and the Kiwi didn’t look back as she belted towards the posts to breach the whitewash for a third time and secure a bonus point in the process too.

There was a hold-up in play just before the hour mark when a clash of heads saw the tenacious Erin Maguire helped off the field, albeit reluctantly, possibly due to her no-nonsense attitude or the potential wrath from her Mother who was watching from the touchline!

That break in proceedings allowed both camps to regroup and regather as the outcome continued to remain in the balance.

When Kelle Nicoll went on another lung-bursting run with the try line in sight, it took a gargantuan response from the back-tracking Furniss to bring her to the muddy ground and thwart the attack.

The Harlequins weren’t to be denied though and they picked up their fourth try of the afternoon after Emma Wood bulldozed her way over the line despite the valiant efforts of Furniss and Chloe Hannant on the line.

Saunders couldn’t convert and the scoreboard saw just two points the difference as the game entered the final quarter.

With the timers on the clubhouse ovens almost into overdrive due to the injury time played, one last burst from Kelle Nicoll was abruptly halted by Lauren Park who got first dibs on the post-match showers with the third yellow of the afternoon brandish by Referee Mclean.

Then, with seconds left on the clock, a final Howe push saw them progress into the home 22, however a timely tackle by Ali Chorlton forced a knock-on offering Broughton a last play scrum.

The ball was secured at the base, scrum half Emma Jones lining up Lorna Murdoch who hoofed the egg out of the paddock to cue scenes of celebrations amongst the home side who fought like warriors throughout.

FT: Broughton 24-22 Howe of Fife

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