Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Eastern Counties made the trip to Aylesbury RFC to take on Buckinghamshire in a high stakes game, the winner to be rewarded with a home semi-final spot in the Gill Burns RFU Women’s Division 2 County Championship the following week. With a battling display against a very well organised and resilient Buckinghamshire side, it was Eastern Counties who came away with a win and their first semi-final appearance.

The opening exchanges saw some great defence from both side, neither wanting to give quarter to the other. With the first quarter almost over, it was EC who broke the deadlock with left wing Saracen’s Georgie Lingham, the recipient of some quick ball, something she used well to race to the line scoring wide out, with Alice Middleton’s conversion going wide the score was 0-5 to the visitors. The visitors appeared to have scored again as Alice Middleton raced to the line, only to be called back by the referee who had spotted a forward pass in the build-up play.

Eastern Counties maintained this narrow lead until half time, despite losing two players to the sin-bin, but even when reduced to 13 the away team’s well organised and fierce defence held firm.
After the break it wasn’t long before Eastern Counties were again on the scoreboard, this time through Bury St Edmunds’ Danni Lee, who accelerated through a gap in midfield to score a try under the posts, with Middleton adding the extras to take the score to 0-12.

It was Middleton who extended the scoreboard further, picking a great line and racing to the line to extend the lead to 0-17 as she was unable to add the extras.

Buckinghamshire were next to score, a good platform being setup by the forwards allowing them to spin the ball wide and score past the visitors’ defensive line to take the score to 5-17.
Eastern Counties replied almost immediately, replacement Steph Hanratty showing her pace and racing down the left flank to score just into the final quarter, in what would be her team’s fourth and final try to take the score to 5-22.

The home team then proceeded to throw everything they had at the Eastern Counties defence in an effort to chip away at the lead, their efforts were rewarded with a try with 2 minutes on the clock to take the score to 10-22, however the two converted tries that would be needed proved too much for them and the final whistle blew confirming Eastern Counties as winners and semi-finalists.

Thoughts now turn to next weekend’s Semi-Final game, which following Leicestershire’s 34-17 victory over Cheshire means that Eastern Counties face Leicestershire in the semi-final. Venue and kick off time to be confirmed shortly.

Team: Naomi (Harwich Owls), Kaylee Williams VC (Wymondham Wasps), Jasmin Clark(Bury St Edmunds Foxes), Lucy Williams (Harwich Owls), Mimi Montgomery), Samantha Wilmott(Harwich Owls), Libby Lockwood(Wymondham Wasps), Sophia John(Wymondham Wasps), Georgie Palmer(Bury St Edmunds Foxes), Claire Brickley(Woodbridge Amazons), Robyn Gordon(Woodbridge), Lizell Heather Capt. (Shelford), Danni Lee(Bury St Edmunds Foxes), Georgie Lingham(Saracens), Alice Middleton(Shelford) Replacements: Toni Bell(Woodbridge), Stacey Hargrave(Wymondham Wasps), Lauren Richardson(Harwich Owls), Lesley Ming(Shelford), Katie Roberts(Bury St Edmunds Foxes), Steph Durrant(Bury St Edmunds Foxes), 22 Steph Hanratty(Bury St Edmunds Foxes)

Scorers: Georgie Lingham 1T, Dani Lee 1T, Alice Middleton 1T, 1C, Steph Hanratty 1T

Back of the match: Alice Middleton, Forward of the match: Mimi Montgomery