Sun 15 Sep 2024
Final score Hucclecote Women 7 - 26 Bridgnorth Women
Carrying on from two pre season friendly wins, Bridgnorth carried that on today with a brilliant win away at Hucclecote RFC.
We arrived at Hucclecote not knowing anything about them & what to expect, both teams came out to warm up & it was evident they were a big side compared to Bridgnorth.
Bridgnorth kicked the game off into a westerly wind, with both teams knocking the ball on in the first 10 minutes & being very scrappy, there really wasn’t anything between the two teams.
Bridgnorth had a break in midfield & Garraway passed to McGuinness who looked clean through but the Hucclecote winger had a different idea of trying to take her head clean off, big gasps from the crowd (no card given) shocked as Bridgnorth were. The whistle for our penalty in front of the post’s, Captain Andrews called for a scrum as Bridgnorth had been so dominant in previous scrums. Bridgnorth win the scrum ball goes out to the backs, Andrews dummies Simmonds, Garraway crashing through breaks one tackle & who pops up, but McGuinness to score 13mins, McGuinness converts.
Bridgnorth look to start taking control now with some nice phases of play from the forwards, setting a platform for Andrews to work her backs off. Ball comes out of a turnover ball by Bridgnorth, pops out to McGuinness who kicks over & gives chase, then only to catch her kick & go under the post for try number two, 17mins, McGuinness converts.
Hucclecote must be thinking there’s no way back now, but they came alive & started turning over Bridgnorth’s ball a few times & it gave them a try on 23mins which they converted.
Bridgnorth got their heads together under the posts & came back firing, now by this time Bridgnorth had took total control of the scrums & were taking them against the head. Bridgnorth changed both props on 30mins to give some fresh legs & those scrums stayed the same with Bridgnorth taking more advantage.
34mins gone & Bridgnorth attacking the far right corner with Home counter rucking & this sees Webber running into to back of the ruck to pick & go only to be stopped metres from the line. In comes Pearson to take the next pick & go she scores, 34min no conversion.
Half time ends 7-19.
Changes ringed by the Bridgnorth coaching team sees Harper making her come back after the shortest retirement in history, also coming on new signing Hamer & the young Harlow going into the centres for the injured Simmonds.
Hucclecote kick off the second half with a thunderbolt of a kick which goes dead giving Bridgnorth a scrum on the halfway. Bridgnorth trying to attack was met by a very strong defence from Hucclecote. The game was scrum after scrum in the second half & both teams getting tired lead to mistakes. The game looked settled until young Harlow took the ball just outside Hucclecote 22, she crashed through the whole defence bouncing players off her to score under the posts, 59mins, Harlow converts.
Bridgnorth thinking that’s the game sealed, Hucclecote still came back in the dying minutes Hucclecote were right on the Bridgnorth try line but some amazing defensive play from our forwards put stop to that attack.
Whistle goes full time Bridgnorth come out winners.
Mentions go to
BOTM Emily McGuinness
FOTM Rachael Home
OPOM Annabel Andrews.
