A Matter of Timing

Although an earlier kick off time had been agreed to help our visitors, Manchester then found themselves left out on the pitch in the rain as the WPL girls disappeared to prepare inside and the scheduled start time passed. However Manchester were certainly up for this game despite the downpour that they “warmed-up” in.

Manchester received from the kick off and decided to ignore the conditions, immediately throwing the ball wide to open up the visitor’s defence. Leeds were simply caught cold with a trademark try down the left wing from Hannah Johnson within two minutes. Nieve Jones converted for a nerve-steadying 7-0 lead.

WPL were not going to get caught out in the same way again and their defensive emphasis shifted to Hannah’s wing. Unfortunately for them the tactical shift didn't work as Katy Morten produced a mirror image try down the right wing. Both wings were thoughtful and touched down under the posts allowing Nieve to convert again to 14-0.

Leeds were already in some disarray and did not relish kicking towards a hungry Manchester back line. Their plan had clearly been to keep the ball tight, in the hope that their forwards would make the ground. To be fair, this was exactly the option that the conditions would have suggested. However Manchester’s forwards were prepared to scrap and good ball was soon won for Amy Lees. Katy was forced infield this time but this only allowed Hannah to link up with her. Ploughing along the muddy channel on the left, Hannah outpaced her opposite number for her second try and Nieve’s third conversion to take the score to 21-0 with less than a quarter played.

The Yorkshire girls were going to have dig deep or be completely over run at this point. Again their option was to simply hold the ball with both their forwards and backs charging through the middle. The contrast with Manchester’s approach could not have been clearer.

Although the visitors would have been unaware, Manchester’s resources had been stretched for this game due to a mixture of injuries, school exams and family reasons. Manchester had no reserve forwards on the day and were short of regular front rowers. As a result Bethan Emuss was asked to move up to her less preferred tight head position (partnering Charlee Chambers and Alyx Maw ). Although the Leeds coaches clearly saw their teams scrummaging as their strength, their experienced pack were more than matched by a very stable front row and the aggressive rucking and mauling of Jess Gurney and Emma Broadbent.

From such a ruck, the backs were quickly released with Katy spotting a gap through the middle. As soon as the line was broken it was clear that she would score but it was good to see Emily Houghton staying right on her shoulder in support. A fourth conversion saw Manchester up to 28-0. With several minutes still to go, Leeds were relieved when the referee finished the half early to allow treatment to an injured Leeds player.

Manchester had the luxury of shuffling their backs at half time (the forwards were stuck out there whether they liked it or not!) with Leanne Murray, Harriet Parsons and Christie Bratherton playing their part. The new girls stood out in their clean red and white tops against their mud splattered teammates.

Leeds knew they had to score next to stand any chance, although the truth is that they never looked likely to in the first period. On the odd occasions when they had broken Manchester’s defensive line, determined chasing had hauled them back as the Manchester girls covered for each other. Anyway, as it turned out, the fresh legs and clean shirt of Harriet soon put paid to any thoughts of an unlikely comeback. An excellent run, evading the tacklers, put Harriet in at the corner for Manchester’s bonus point try and a solid 33-0 lead.

Manchester’s pack did not tire even though the game became understandably scrappy with several knock-ons from both sides resulting in scrums. When the ball was put in straight, Manchester’s scrum was able to drive their opponents back and on several occasions to take the ball against the head. With a bonus point already in the bag, Leeds effectively beaten and the weather worsening, it was unlikely that a show of Barbarians style rugby was going to round off the afternoon.

It was fitting then that Manchester’s final try came courtesy of a great effort by the forwards driving towards the visitor’s line, picked up by Charlee for a try that the whole of the Manchester pack deserved for playing in such conditions. Leeds seemed unhappy about the conditions now (surely it rains in Yorkshire as well?!) but the old adage that it is the same for both sides would have been accepted by any neutral.
Manchester now seemed likely to chase a 50 point score before a break away try allowed WPL to make their first and only mark on the scoreboard at 38-7. The groan of despair from the Manchester girls at conceding a try, consolation or not, said a lot about the team. After two previous clean sheets, Manchester had played almost three hours of rugby without conceding a single point – a tremendous achievement by any standards!

It seemed certain that the order of the day would be restored with another Manchester score. Indeed from the re-start, the ball ran loose and a foot race to the line was nearly won by Amy. How Amy did not score a few minutes later, when it appeared to all that she had forced her way over the line, is anyone’s guess – but with the muddy try line the referee’s guess said "no try".

As a result of that onslaught, two WPL players were left needing treatment with a few minutes remaining. As those few minutes were not going to change the result, Leeds were allowed a second early finish and the referee blew for full time.

This was an excellent performance in difficult conditions that has secured second place in the North West League at the half way point of the season.

Photos here>>>
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