Harlequins Ladies get a hatrick of wins after halting Aylesford's advances
OCT
An exciting mini bus ride transported Quins Ladies to the green fields of Aylesford this weekend for their third league contest. Quins Ladies pressurised Aylesford from the start, forcing a kick down field to the safe hands of Katy Strudwick. Focusing into the game, a penalty against the home team gifted Quins Ladies with a great kick from Jayne Goodliffe and three points on the scoreboard. Despite some solid tackling by Nat Smith, Aylesford reminded us they were not a team to be trifled with and through a display of great timing and running took themselves over the line for a subsequently converted try.
Never a team to lay down, Quins Ladies drove forward into Aylesford’s half, seeking retribution. Great rucking, a focus of recent training sessions, was evident across the team, notably by props Katherine Smith and Zoe Jeanes but the backs were not to be outdone and fullback Isia Storey made Aylesford pay. Storey also demonstrated a communion of purpose with winger Mel Antao, cut cruelly short by a painful ankle injury. Persevering with only 14 players while quick decisions were made off pitch, the Ladies illuminated their artistry with great runs from Amy Smith, Shannon Mullen and the notorious Sarah Butler.
Moments before halftime, Quins Ladies’ persistence in attack brought them to the 5m line with an Aylesford scrum before them, their relentless drive successfully turning it. Granted the ball, the pack surged forward only to be frustrated by the call of a knock on. Fired up and close enough to taste those 5 points, Quins Ladies obliterated the Aylesford pack and Captain Laura Quinn’s pick and go took them into the lead.
After half time, fullback replacement Becca (Bruce) Hickey stamped her name on the game by securely collecting the ball as Aylesford fought to pierce our try line through her quick thinking and kicks while under pressure. This was but the tip of the iceberg of talent exhibited by the backs: Jayne Goodliffe’s game kicking successively placed the ball in the most useful point in touch, allowing the forwards to dominate the line out with consistently fantastic catching.
From the platform of a Quins’ scrum, Aylesford attempted an interception only to be called offside by the referee. The kick to touch and safe retrieval in the line out sailed the ball out to Sarah Butler on the wing who skinned Aylesford’s defence to score in the right hand corner, not converted.
The fight was not yet over and the rivals punished one another for every centimetre gained but no further points were to be scored as the final whistle blew and jubilation spread throughout the team in celebration of another league win and retention, for the moment, of our place at the top of the league table.
Harlequin Ladies’ Squad: Zoe Jeanes (prop), Jo Ballentine (hooker), Katherine Smith (prop), Kate Sinfield (second row), Kyra Howell (second row), Nat Smith (blindside flanker), Claire Brazier-Kobus (open-side flanker), Laura Quinn (number 8 and Team Captain), Amy Smith (scrum half), Jayne Goodliffe (fly half), Mel Antao (winger), Shannon Mullen (centre), Sarah Butler (centre), Katy Strudwick (winger), Isia Storey (fullback). Subs: Lauren Cooper, Jane Hoyes, Alex Leigh, Rebecca Hickey, Jo Everett.
For further information about Harlequin Ladies Football Club, including the range of fabulous sponsorship opportunities we offer, please contact us via email on quinsladies@hotmail.com or click on the website www.harlequinladies.co.uk.
