Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Eastern Counties Women made history, playing in their first County Championship final, putting last year’s bogie team Leicestershire to the sword in spectacular style scoring seven tries to two in a thrilling semi-final encounter at Stowmarket RFC.

Leicestershire dominated much of the first quarter of the game, which was played predominantly in the Eastern Counties 22m, the visitors scrum and line both dominant and able to provide lots of clean ball from which they were able to mount attack after attack. However Eastern Counties defence stood rock solid in opposition to the onslaught, with the big hits coming in from forwards and backs alike, led by openside flanker Libby Lockwood (Wymondon Wasps), who was everywhere, ably supported by her fellow back rowers Sam Willmott (Harwich Owls) and Sophia John (Wymondham Wasps).

The first score however came from a turnover in the Eastern Counties 22m, with loose-head prop Naomi Dobner(Harwich Owls) releasing the ball to the backs, which was quickly shipped to Alice Middleton(Shelford), who added pace before releasing flying left wing Georgie Lingham who raced to the line leaving defenders in her wake scoring her first of three tries, Middleton added the extras to take a seven point lead. This was followed by period of attrition with Leicester coming back at Eastern Counties, but again the defence stood firm and managed to start to become more competitive in the tight, allowing them to generate some front foot ball, which resulted in some driving play from the tight five, before the ball was released to back of the match fly half Claire Brickley(Woodbridge Amazons) who gave a deft pass to captain Lizell Heather(Shelford) who powered through several would-be tackles from 20m out to score Eastern Counties second try to take the score to 12-0.

Eastern Counties next try came soon after with Middleton fielding a loose kick at fullback then running the ball to the line of defence at half way before executing a sublime kick into space allowing which was taken by speedster Lingham to gather without breaking step to race in for her second try of the game, to take the score to 19-0 with 10 minutes of the half still to come.

The next try came from second row Lucy Williams (Harwich Owls) who following a series of pick and goes was on the end of a lovely pop pass from Lockwood allowing her to drive to the line to score under the posts, the easy conversion coming from Middleton taking the score to 26-0.

The final score of the half came from Lingham who again showed a clean pair of heals to the opposition scoring her third to complete a hat-trick of tries, to take the score to 31-0, which stayed the same until the break.

Eastern Counties scored shortly after the restart this time from Steph Hanratty(Bury Foxes) who despite the attentions of her opposite number raced to the line to score on the right flank, taking the score to 36-0.

Leicestershire then capitalises on a lapse in concentration and rare defensive mistake to score a converted try, then then scored another straight from the kick off with their right wing racing in from half way to score a second try to take the score to 36-14.

Eastern Counties then re-grouped and brought the shutters down in defence once again to close the game out, the final score coming from Heather who scored her second of the game and the 7th try for Eastern Counties with 2 minutes to go.

Leicestershire tried valiantly to reduce the deficit in the final moments of the game but were shut down by the committed and powerful Eastern Counties defence.

After the game Team Manager Aaron Swanborough said “That he was immensely proud of the achievements of not just of the 22 players who played in the semi-final, but those who have played in the earlier rounds and the wider squad and promised them all a weekend to remember when they play the in the final”

Thoughts are now focussed firmly on the final against near neighbours Essex who beat Dorset & Wilts away 7-24 to secure their place in the final, which takes place at Richmond Athletic Ground on Sunday 27th May, kick off is 10am with the medal presentation taking place at Twickenham later in the day before the England vs Barbarians game, to which the squad have been invited to attend.

Supporters are welcome to come and watch the game, entry is free to Women’s Final, but you will need a ticket for the England vs Barbarians game to enter the Twickenham Stadium.

Back of the match: Claire Brickley, Forward of the match: Jasmin Clark

Eastern Counties: Naomi Dobner(Harwich Owls), Kaylee Williams (VC) (Wymondham Wasps), Jasmin Clark(Bury Foxes), Lucy Williams(Harwich Owls), Mimi Montgommery(Harwich Owls), Samantha Willmott(Harwich Owls), Libby Lockwood(Wymondham Wasps), Sophia John(Wymondham Wasps), Georgie Palmer(Bury Foxes), Claire Brckley(Woodbridge Amazons), Steph Hanratty(Bury Foxes), Lizell Heather Capt. (Shelford), Danni Lee(Bury Foxes), Georgie Lingham(Saracens), Alice Middleton(Shelford) Replacements: Toni Bell(Woodbridge Amazons), Carmel Roisin(Woodbridge Amazons), Lauren Richardson(Harwich Owls), Lesley Ming(Shelford), Katie Roberts(Bury Foxes), Steph Durrant(Bury Foxes), Becki Hare(Harwich Owls)

Scorers: Georgie Lingham 3T, Lizell Heather 2T, Lucy Williams 1T, Steph Hanratty 1T, Alice Middleton 3C from 7 attempts

Leicestershire: Emma Bromley, Danielle Allen Solly (Capt), Vicci Coger, Carla Joes, Laura Turner, Emily Powell, Daphine Fromes, Jade Shakespeare, Amy Relf, Bryony Pomfret, Bronagh Doherty, Ellie Turner, Alex Macdonald, Billi-Rai Smallman, Emma Dootson Replacements: Skye Wilson, Issy Drexter, Tish Wallace, Alice Birr, Ellen Ramsnottom, Francesca Rushton, Steph Plunkett