Lots of changes and opportunities as the Women’s team took away a good win on home soil, bouncing back after the last bruising performance.
You can’t get any closer than this local derby for the women today and East Retford came with the help from Hemsworth women. Credit to them for assisting in getting this game on, otherwise we’d have missed out on another amazing after match meal provided by Matt, our chef.
Newark from the kick off used their ever-improving skills in keeping the continuity and flow with backs and forwards interacting well, taking the ball forward at pace at every opportunity. Ridged defence from Retford held the women out for a short time until Iona, our scrum half, ceased on a gap around a ruck. She picked up and darted through from the 22-metre line. Ella continued where she left off last game and confidently slotted the conversion.
From the restart Newark had to show some resilience in defence as Retford came at them using their power runners. The back row of Keeley, Camille and Vicky worked hard in slowing the ball down and creating opportunities for us to steal the ball throughout the game. After an early turn over the ball was thrown out quickly and Ella, using her illusive skills, ran in another try.
The confidence grew as the weather improved, enabling the pace to grow as the handling became easier. This created more space for everyone, and Retford did well to hold out both wingers Sophie and Jen with last ditch tackles. However, the next try was finished off by Emelie, our General in the back line, as she linked the hard-working front five into the opposition half and towards the try line, with a constant barrage from Jodie, Michelle, Lucy, Kerry and Kiara, with their friends and teammates in support, recycling the ball constantly until Emelie ran in unchallenged.
The try of the game came next with an individual effect from Kat, our speedy full-back. A clearance kick was collected from her own 22-metre line. Using her pace, agility and growing confidence, she beat the advancing players, weaving past nearly the whole team and with the crowd cheering her on, it looked as through the opposition full back was going to stop her but then she put on the after burner and breezed past to finish off under the posts. Converted by Ella.
Making a few changes either positional or personnel didn’t alter the intensity or effectiveness of attack with Sophie making her first appearance on the back row or Rowanne debuting in the second row along with Paige in the centres added much needed strength and fresh legs.
Half time came with the women 22-0 up.
Immediately from the restart Newark secured the ball and again pressurised the defence with strong direct runners amongst the forwards and then linking into the backs where Iona now playing as a centre collected out wide and beat her opposite number to run in the first try of the second half.
This was quickly followed by Paige’s brilliant support play as she received a inside pass from Ella who had drawn the defence. Determination and strength allowed her to break through the defensive line to score under the posts for her first Newark try. I can see many more to follow.
The game then became a little disjointed with a few injuries disrupting the flow. This helped Retford and they were able to respond with a try for their powerful centre who caused us trouble throughout the game, However, strong tackling and a quicker line speed stopped many more being scored today, credit to Holly, Ella, and Paige along with Sophie and Jen out wide keeping their opposite numbers out.
The game finished with cheeky try for our ever-present Captain Emelie, who quickly took a tap penalty close to the line and squeezed over in the corner.
Hard work during training has definitely paid off today and everyone can see their own personal objectives are coming together.