Medway Ladies 41 Sutton & Epsom Ladies 22
The travel to Sutton and Epsom did not bow well with Medway in the first half, playing against the strong head wind and heading up the field took it’s toll shortly after the whistle went for play to begin.
Sutton scored their first try ten minutes in, with the inside centre powering through the defence and touching down under the posts which was converted. Medway’s Louise Burford made a solo run from the twenty-two to the far corner to try and level up the score.
It was as this point when things went from bad to worse for Medway; some bad decisions by the referee seem to unsettle Medway’s game. This saw Sutton and Epsom score a further three tries in quick succession, to take a 22-5 lead into half time.
Medway needed to drastically up their game going into second half, if they were to salvage anything from this disappointing start.
It was Burford again to break through the defence with great support play from sioban Preston and Lauren McColl she was able to score under the posts which Lesley Tompson converted.
With some great forward possession Fly-Half Charlotte Cooke was able to take a short pass from Burford and make a sprint for the line. Converted by Tompson.
Medway had all the possession in the second half, and with the whole team putting 100% effort in now they were able to run in another four tries converting one which made the final score 41-22 to Medway Ladies.
This was an important league win for Medway as they still remain unbeaten in the league, and with a newly formed side the future is looking bright.
Team: Louise Burford (3tries), Tanya Chitty, Zoe Abbott, Sioban Preston, Lauren McColl, Lesley Tompson (1try three conversions), Charlotte Cooke (2 tries), Leanne Ogston (1 try), Sasha Blomfield, Leigh Elliot
Medway Ladies 125 Beccehamians 0
Medway travelled to Beckenham for friendly against a side ranked a league above them. Ready for a tough match Medway lined up raring to go out and put on a good performance. As soon as the whistle went for play to begin Medway were straight up on the kick driving forward as a unit and with a snatch from the back of the Maul Louise Burford claimed the first of many tries to come.
From then on it seemed like one way traffic as Medway piled on pressure with some great supporting play and better communication touched down a further ten tries in the first half.
The second half began slowly as Beccehamians seemed to up their own game and try to salvage something from the disappointing first half. Medway then played well in defence and responded with some excellent lines of running by the backs and brilliant resistance from the forwards winning some ‘tough ball’ from the rucks and mauls. The second half saw Medway run in another nine tries all converted by Lesley Tompson-byatt.
This was an excellent result for Medway who showed right from the outset that they wanted this win. With a relatively new team the ‘back to basics’ approach seemed to work for Medway today. Great team play and each player giving 100% obviously showed in the score as every Medway Player on the pitch was able to score a try. Winger Leigh Elliott and Flanker Lauren McCall both awarded player of the match as they both produced some fantastic individual play and scored their first tries for Medway Ladies.
The ladies are hoping to take all the positives from this game and use it in their next must win league match.
Team: Louise Burford (4 tries),Zoe Abbott(2tries),Lauren McCall(1 try), Siobion Preston(1try),Lesley Tompson-Byatt(1try-15 conversions),Ann Robertson(1 try),Leigh Elliott(1 try),Sasha Blomfield(2tries),Charlotte Cooke(4 tries),Leanne Ogston(2tries).
Medway Ladies v Hastings Ladies
Medway travelled away to Hastings, which is their third league match of the season. They needed a win in order to remain within the top three of the league table.
The First half got under way and within ten minutes Captain Louise Burford scored a try, the back line shipped the ball across the pitch with winger Lucy Aird who was playing her first League match for Medway setting up the maul to provide a quick ball out to Burford who was able to touch down on the right of the posts.
Hastings came back at Medway quickly taking the advantage from a missed clearance kick to find the try line and level up the score.
Medway responded well to the pressure and were given a penalty in Hastings own half. Burford took it quickly and making some ground herself, giving a short pass out to the wing for Charlotte Cooke to run onto. Cooke out pacing the defence, was able to touch down for the try to put Medway in the lead again.
Hastings were awarded a scrum on the half way line for a knocked forward ball by Medway and with a pass out to their winger, she managed to dodge the defence an make a solo run half way down the pitch to settle the scores.
Unhappy at this ‘soft’ try given away Medway once again got down to business. A ruck formed on the Hastings 22 metre line and with brilliant support play from the forwards Cooke was able to take a blind side pass and sprint for the line. This meant that Medway had a five point lead at half time.
The half time break seemed to have had a positive effect on Medway as good support play and tackling from Medway earnt them a scrum in the opposing half. a clean ball out from scrum-half Ann Robertson to the back line saw inside centre Leanne Ogston take advantage of a gap in the defence to make a sprint for the line touching down between the posts which was converted by Cooke.
With no letting up the forwards made excellent ground driving the defence backwards down the field, Hastings were then penalised for trying to drag the ball down, Burford took this quickly and managed to power through and touch down again under the posts, Lesley Tompson converted.
With ten minutes left on the clock Medway sprung in to action once again with great running from the backs and fantastic support play from the forwards. Shioban Preston also playing her first league match crashed through to the try line making it a comfortable 34-10 win for the visiting side.
This was a well deserved win for the Medway ladies, who hope to build on this performance for future matches.
East Grinstead v Medway
Medway ladies travelled away to East Grinstead, on their first league match of the season looking for an important victory over the Home side.
The game got of to a quick start, playing ten a side the first try came within the first ten minutes the ball was passed down the home sides back line and popped out to the winger who touched down for the try which was converted. Medway quickly re-grouped and with a central kick from fly-half charlotte Cooke the back line began the chase inside centre Leanne Ogston kicked the ball on to the try line area and scored Medway’s first try. From the re-start Medway gained possession again and with a well timed outside pass from the outside centre Leigh Elliott to the newest member of Medway’s ladies Jo Norgberg she hopped passed the defence to put Medway in the lead. The play was equally divided between the two teams and it was East Grinstead who came up with the next try. Their centre player breaking through the centre of a maul and scoring under the posts which was converted. This was to be the last East Grinstead try as Medway again pulled up their socks and finished the First half with hooker Zoe Abbott driving through a maul and touching down which Cooke Converted.
The second half began as quickly as the first but Medway were the first off the mark to score Captain and second row Louise Burford took a pass from Scrum-half Ann Robertson from a lineout on the half way line and sprinted down the field for the fourth try of the rain drenched afternoon. Medway seemed to be on a roll now with the fifth coming from Norgberg a fantastic solo run within the home sides half and touched down her second of the day in the far corner. The final try of the afternoon was a pass coming from Norgberg back inside to Burford who with great support from the pack powered through the last line of defence and scored under the posts which she converted.
With Natalie Jemmitt making her first appearance since becoming a mum in June and Two new players to the side, Medway got the victory they wanted after being defeated in a friendly last week. The whole team showed great determination and dug deep to gain the win. This was a promising start for a re-built Medway ladies side, hopefully they will build on this well deserved win for the next match.
Team: Louise Burford, Tanya Chitty, Zoe Abbott, Kirsty Gilling, Natalie Jemmitt, Jo Norgberg, Ann Robertson, Charlotte Cooke, Leanne Ogston, Sasha Blomfield, Leigh Elliott.