St.Neots 17 - 20 Stockwood Park

Strong runs from both sets of forwards dominated the first quarter with fierce contest at the breakdown dictating the play and limiting the opportunities to attack. Holly Ingam, Beth Robinson and Lizzie Marshall, in particular, made great use of the jackle play to steal the ball back, while Stockwood Park seemed to prefer the pile-and-drive method to turn over possession on the floor. Despite committed defence and good work at the breakdown, the ball stayed in St Neots half and it was Stockwood Park who broke the stalemate first, making the most of the space created by a scrum on the far side and running around the defence to score. 0-5.

The game started to open up more with the restart, Saints working hard to protect the ball in contact and linking more phases together. The backs were able to use some attacking play with Libby Robinson making some good ground, and great hands by Clare Simpson kept the ball alive in a sustained period of Saints possession. An admittedly well-timed rip from the Stockwood Park released the pressure for the visitors and almost set them up to run wide again but a great cover tackle from Leah Coombes and a great rip from Beth Robinson cut the attack short.

Saints responded to the change in direction and quickly got the ball to Coombes to make a break down the wing. The support was there to keep possession for a few more phases but the competition at the breakdown was constant from Stockwood and again they managed to steal the ball back, although it was shortly followed by a knock-on to give Saints the scrum. Stockwood managed to scoop up the ball from a side exit but great reactions and pressure from the backs won possession back almost immediately, and again Saints had a multi-phase attack culminating in Nicola Dawes making a break to within the 22. Stockwood’s penalty count continued to climb and in such a strong position, Saints worked a coordinated attack to draw the opposition and Beth Robinson was able to charge through the gap created to score, also converting for the extra 2. 7-5.

A fortuitous bounce of the ball allowed Stockwood to gather their own restart and made some strong runs to break into the home 22 quickly. Saints were able to turn over the ball but were shortly turned over themselves and, making the most of a scattered line, the Stockwood 14 made a dash to the line to score her second. 7-10.

Good pressure from the restart forced Stockwood to go sideways and a nice double tackle from Sammy Mason and Jess Day set up yet another turn over for Beth Robinson. Some loose ball in the middle of the pitch ended up back in Saints possession and Mason was set up for a great run down the touchline, unfortunately just trailing a leg over the whitewash in the cover tackle to set up the only lineout of the game. Possession continued to switch between the teams for the remainder of the half and the tackles were solid from both sides, although a spectacular self-sacrifice from Mason following a pick and go was a definite home favourite. Half time was called with the score at 7-10.

The second half started with the same intensity with which the first finished, both teams keeping the pressure and work rate high. Dawes snaffled up a loose ball but was instantly wrapped in red shirts and the incoming support from Saints couldn’t stop the drive, giving Stockwood a scrum from the turn over.

Great pressure from Emily Miller meant the ball only made one pass before being knocked on, and the ball went back to Saints. Beth Robinson pulled a backs move to wrong-foot the defence and made 40m sprint to the opposition 22. The support was there to secure the ball and the ball was recycled well to get tantalisingly close to the line before Stockwood defence forced a penalty. The kick failed to find touch however and the attack was back on. Unfortunately, although able to cross the line an earlier knock-on stopped Coombes adding her name to the score sheet. She did however gather the clearance kick and recover most of the ground it cleared.

Stockwood regained possession from a loose ball and had their first real attacking phase in the second half and made it to halfway before a Saints scrum was awarded. Although Stockwood stole the ball on that occasion, Saints were able to reclaim it in another scrum moments later and won a penalty to boot. Another sustained attacking phase and a nice break from Vicky Wilkinson in her first play of the game, Saints eventually capitalised on the opposition’s poor discipline and set Dawes up to score in the corner. 12-10.

A great take by Beth Hughes at the restart carried the home side momentum into the next phase, and yet another penalty, some great hands and a beautiful run from Dawes saw her claim a second in quick succession. 17 -10.

Determined, Stockwood continued to push the attack and made the most of uncontested scrums to barrel over late in the second half to bring the score to 17-15.

It was a nerve-wracking final 10 minutes for the supporters as Saints had some great attacking play, Libby Robinson and Megan Thody both almost breaking through. Stockwood defended hard though and won a succession of penalties resulting in a final try for the visitors to close the scoring at 17-20.

Forward of the match was Britni-May Edwards, back of the match went to Nicola Dawes and coaches player was awarded to Clare Simpson