Newbury Women
Matches
Sun 10 Sep 2017  ·  Women's Championship South West 2
Cullompton Ladies
15
18
Newbury Rugby Football Club
Newbury Women
Blues leave it late in West Country thriller

Blues leave it late in West Country thriller

Jeannie Ivanov11 Sep 2017 - 07:08
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Place kicking accuracy is the difference in close fought league opener vs Cullompton

Captain Megan Horwood and place kicker Chloe Hunt inspired Newbury Ladies to an extremely hard fought win on a blustery, rain swept afternoon in the West Country, chalking up all 18 of the Blues' points between them. But they were aided and abetted by a supporting cast of 17 team mates who refused to lie down whatever the match, and the Autumn weather, threw at them.

With both teams making their Championship debut and meeting each other for the first time ever a cagey opening period might have seemed likely, but the Blues settled into their tempo quickly and enjoyed the lions' share of control and possession in the high intensity opening exchanges. Roxy Fauconnier almost opened Newbury's account in the first five minutes when she found space on the blind side wing following the first of several quick tap penalties, but it was Horwood who took the game by the scruff of the neck, reacting with lightning speed when Cullompton conceded another penalty under the posts and fixing her eyes firmly on the try line, to drive over from 10 metres out. Hunt added the extras despite a tight angle.

Buoyed by their bright start, the Blues continued to test their hosts' defensive credentials. The conditions were not conducive to expansive backs play but Meg Mason controlled the game beautifully from ten, probing the Cullompton back three with a series of well judged kicks into space and releasing her forwards on for one barnstorming run after another. Penetrating the Cullompton defence was no easy task but on the 17th minute Rosie Brenton burst through a tiny gap, beat a defender with a step that a full back would have been proud of, and found Horwood on her shoulder to offload to. Horwood was again unstoppable on her way to the try line and the Blues found themselves 12 points to the good. Their lead lasted only a few minutes though, as their hosts came straight back at them from the kick off and scored a lovely try from a textbook backs move, leaving Newbury eager to go into the half time and take a breath - but not before they'd added three more points from Hunt's boot.

Cullompton took their momentum into the second half and were soon within five points of the Blues when their scavenging, combative number seven stole a ball from the back of a very open ruck and sprinted 40 metres to the line. The Blues' mettle was now being well and truly tested with the hosts finding more space for their dangerous back line. As they increased the pressure Newbury's discipline in the ruck was put under strain and, with ten minutes left on the clock, Horwood was shown yellow for going off her feet. The Blues now found themselves with a slim lead, defending their own line with 14 players on the pitch. Despite real heroism in the tackle from half backs Lizzie Harris and Mel Gray, Cullompton were able to suck enough of the defensive line in to level the scores at 15-15 with eight minutes to play and Horwood still stalking the sideline.

But nobody was in the mood to play out for a draw.

Newbury's pack had been nothing short of superb all afternoon, pinching several defensive scrums, dominating the line out through jumper Harry Synan and generally making a nuisance of themselves all over the pitch, and in those tense final minutes they took the game to task. From a catch and drive line out they drove the resulting maul 30 metres down the pitch, bringing Harriet Mustard to within 2 metres of the line and winning a penalty in the process. The home team finally managed to get hands on ball but relentless Blue pressure stopped them from clearing their lines; they eventually conceded a penalty for unbinding at the scrum, and the nerveless Hunt made a 30 metre kick into swirling wind look ridiculously easy; it wasn't, and she sent Newbury back down the M5 bruised but delighted with their first Champioship points.

Both teams will go into training this week with plenty to work on but should be proud of their respective contributions to an enthralling season opener.

Scorers: Horwood (2) , Hunt (1 con, 2 pens)
Forward of the match: Rosie Brenton
Forward of the match: Chloe Hunt

Match details

Match date

Sun 10 Sep 2017

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Women's Championship South West 2

League position

1
Cullompton Ladies
5
Newbury Ladies
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - MKM
Player Sponsor - GOHO
Player Sponsor - Osborne Landscapes
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Player Sponsor - The Bushcraft Company
Player Sponsor - Capability Financial Solutions
Club Sponsor - LS Fire Solutions
Club Sponsor - Precision Fabrication
Club Sponsor - Bodyset