Amazons end season on a high with win against Beckenham
Match Report
National Challenge SE1 League
Woodbridge Amazons 32 v Beckenham 10
Sunday 28 April 2013
The Amazons started well in this end-of-season, re-arranged, clear up match for both home and away points. Beckenham’s forwards showed early promise being much bigger than the Woodbridge pack who’s hooker, Lorraine Culver, put in some early carries. The penalty count favoured the visitors as Amazons were repeatedly offside, off their feet and in at the side which let Beckenham attack on the right to Amazon’s 22 where they used forward pressure to win a penalty then lineout to let flanker Sammy Palmer to score.
The Beckenham pressure continued with some darting runs from their backs between pick and drives from Sayers, Doyle and Nichols as they exploited too many Amazon penalties. After a long maul deep into Amazon’s territory Stephanie Mills broke on the blind side to score the visitor’s second try.
In the last 10 minutes of the half play opened up which finally allowed the Woodbridge runners some space. EJ Stearn was the first to break as Beckenham were cut to 14 players, running up the left wing to score. Then Stearn was at it again picking up a loose ball and offloading for Chloe Stopard Baker to level 10-10 at the break.
Beckenham clearly wanted to keep the ball tight and allow their pack to dictate terms again but Woodbridge kept the ball moving and even used their own forwards, centurion second row; Ali Haile and Karen Fletcher, both over 50, possibly playing their last Amazons league game before retirement as No 8 Ange Newham drove down the left to score soon after the restart. Clearly enjoying more of the ball Lou Rickard let EJ Stearn away to score from a long breakaway run as the tide continued to turn. The visitors continued to ruck hard and maul well to keep the Amazons at bay but the home team was not to be contained as Ange Newham broke again to score. To their credit Beckenham kept the Amazons back in their own 22 for much of the last quarter but in the dying moments it was Louise Holmes’ turn to sprint over half of the pitch to score and make it a great 32-10 turn-round last match victory for the Amazons.
Woodbridge Amazons 32 v Beckenham 10
Media contacts
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Woodbridge Rugby Union Football Club, Hatchley Barn, Orford Road, Bromeswell, Suffolk, IP12 2PP.
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