Match Report: Tabard Women v BSRFC Women

by Maja Wabich

Sunday 28 January saw a travelling Bishop’s Stortford Women’s XV face Tabard once again, after the last home loss to the team.

Showing that they really meant business this time, Stortford stood on strong ground from the very start of the game, pushing their way towards Tabard’s try line. Unfortunately, a quick fumble resulted in the loss of Stortford’s possession, and they were unable to put points on the board.

Not to be deterred, Stortford set up a sturdy defensive line to make sure that the opposition was unable to make any ground. Once again, Lorell Jordan (inside-centre) proved to be a force to be reckoned with in her tackling, enabling number 8, Yasmin Knott, to regain the ball from the back of a ruck. Another knock-on gave Tabard the scrum, who utilised a brief gap in Stortford’s line to score the first try of the game, which was unconverted.

In a game of tit-for-tat, there was a display of brute strength and determination from both sides to push the other to their limits. Eventually, relentless pressure from Stortford and some costly mistakes from Tabard led to a blue penalty. With quick-tap, hooker Eva Radukic was able to smash through the Tabard line before passing out to full-back, Morgane Geary-Warne. In her true fashion, Geary-Warne flew down the pitch, dodging several unsuspecting Tabard players to score Stortford’s first try in the corner.

Boosted by the equaliser, Stortford continued to put pressure on Tabard in attack. Unfortunately, in a bid for revenge and a win at home, Tabard intercepted the ball to score a second try, converted to bring the score to 12-5.

From the starting whistle at the second half, it remained clear that neither team was willing to accept defeat in this game. In continuous exchanges of play, moving back and forth between the teams, spectators watched with bated breath as the battle continued. Some huge runs from outside-centre, Elise Sauvary, flanker, Christina Radukic, and second-row, Charlotte Wheeler, gave Stortford the ground and the confidence they needed to make their way up the pitch. A sneaky pick-and-go from Knott, clears some space for an offload to scrum-half, Chloe Capp, who scored the second try for the blues, 12-10.

The physicality of the game continued, and as both sides started to tire, the cracks were beginning to show in knock-ons and loose balls. Strong carries from finisher, Holly Knight, and prop, Ellie-Jayne Cappuccini, once again allowed Stortford to really challenge the opposition.

In an incredible display of teamwork from the blues, they shifted the ball down the line to find a gap in the opposition’s defence for Geary-Warne to break through and get close to the try line - but not quite close enough. Wheeler was able to push through slightly further before passing to finisher, Izzy Brown, who scored her first try in a Stortford jersey.

After an unconverted try, and one last phase before the final whistle, BSRFC Women’s XV celebrated a 12-15 win to remain top of the leaderboard.

• Players’ player: Morgane Geary-Warne
• Coaches’ player: Elise Sauvary