Haringey Rhinos Ladies kickstarted their season with a visit from Sutton & Epsom 2s. With plenty of new and returning players plus a new coach, the Rhinos were eager to set the standards high for the rest of the year.

Receiving first, the Rhinos put some of their newly planned moves into practice, using Louise Waldock at centre to create space for opportunities on the wing. Quick distribution from the breakdown out to the backs lead to a fantastic debut try for Liv Ronan in her first official appearance for the Rhinos. Ali Archer also made a triumphant start at scrum half before carrying the ball over the line, followed by another try from forward Laura Magill.

Switching sides at halftime meant a literal uphill battle for the Rhinos, and further injuries necessitated a drop to 13 players per side. Hannah Bennett soon capitalised on the gaps on the outside for a solo try down the wing from kickoff, followed by Waldock crashing through the centre to cross the line. Louise Bonnet put further points on the board, with 3 successful conversions.

Despite the pressure and the widening score gap, Sutton and Epsom fought to the very end, and took advantage of a lull in the Rhinos defence to put 5 points under the posts. Haringey responded with a final try to seal the deal at 36-5.

A big thank you to Sutton and Epsom for a great game and social. Congratulations to the team all round, with Players’ Player going to Ali Archer for stepping in at scrum half, and Biggest Hit to Elise Walker for her work rate at the tackling and breakdown.