Sunday 20th October 2024
Blackheath Women vs Barnes Women
A blustery, drizzly Sunday afternoon saw this concussed prop (Rebecca Carter) trot on over to Rectory Fields to watch her mighty team Blackheath Women take on Barnes. This match report must be caveated to say that it’s exceptionally biased and not explicitly factually correct. AND I would like to request that people get a scrum cap in a colour OTHER than black, because quite frankly you all look the same from a distance…
Blackheath Women haven’t had their greatest start to the season but that has not stopped them training hard and focusing on improving their game. This became evident as the match kicked off and Blackheath held possession and set up their attacking play. Set piece allowed for some lovely work by the backs; and despite Joka Tasau (13) insisting that netball passes are a more efficient way of moving the ball, Blackheath regain possession. A strong scrum platform allowed Sophie Durman (8) to attack from its base, some champagne passing later and the ball dotted is over the line by Joka in the 10th minute.
5v0 (10mins)
After a missed conversion, Barnes restart the match directly into Jackie Esono’s (10) arms. She runs at the advancing Barners side, and a sneaky dummy to Clémence Labat (12) allows her to break through their line and Clem follows receiving the ball. Clem grubbers and sends the ball over the halfway mark with Joka chasing, a few dribbles later and Joka scores again for Blackheath.
10v0 (11mins)
By no means conceding defeat, Barnes get themselves into the game. A period of attack by the opposition proves fruitless as Blackheath’s defense holds. Claudia Di Marco (5) makes a huge hit causing the ball to spill, and Ruby Hughes (9) tries her hand at some football before the Scrum is awarded to Blackheath. Although the ball is lost in the scrum, Brittany Mathison (14) wins it back and attempts to kick through, but Barnes scupper her plans and regather. More excellent defense by Sophie and Ruby causes Barnes to knock on the ball and Blackheath set for another scrum. The mighty front row, Emily Rutter (1), Stephanie Wilson (2) and Stephanie Hutchinson (3) (who between them have a combined age of a Centurion) successfully win the scrum and the ball speeds down the line. An overzealous pass causes a knock on and allows Barnes to set their scrum. Blackheath’s pack win the ball against the head, but some suspicious footwork means Barnes regathers the ball. A volley of penalties follow but Ellis Moore (15) showed their prowess in defence as they shut down Barnes repeatedly.
Blackheath have a solid few minutes of attack and a high tackle on Claudia as she marches up the pitch gives Ruby the opportunity to kick for touch. (Authors note, Conor wasn’t happy about this decision, but I assured him we’d score from this). Wilson’s throw into the awaiting arms of Lisa Shaw (4) gives Blackheath an opportunity to run out one of the lineout moves they’ve been working on for weeks. Wilson regathers at the back of the maul, before passing out to Sophie who goes over the line! Sophie then goes on to convert her own try with a dubiously bending ball.
17v0 (30mins)
Amelia Bradbury (16) gets her chance on the pitch at 34mins into the game, as Hutch is subbed off. Barnes have a period of attack but their flat passing and Blackheath’s intimidating defensive press thwarts their chances of breaking the line. Once the ball is won back there are some hard carries by Clem and Amelia but the Barnes defense shuts them down. Barnes retain possession for a nerve wracking 10mins, but make no ground as Blackheath hold them within the same 5m channel for the duration.
Rutter is subbed off for Barbara Axamska (17), who charges onto the pitch to make her mark.
Half time
Rugby as a spectator sport is hard work, so a quick trip to the bar meant that I missed two yellow cards (one each for deliberate knock-ons) at the start of the second half. Petition for a pitch side bar!
Blackheath begin the second half with some beautiful set piece work; with Sophie D winning the ball on a few of Barnes lineouts.
At this point your author is joined in the Media Centre by Janet Okolie; carrying warm croissants.
Together we watch Jackie whipping her back and forth as she carries the ball into contact and Ellis trying another little grubber through the line.
When Barnes drop their lifter causing her to knock on the ball, Blackheath seize the opportunity to score a try with Clem charging through under the posts; but the ref disagrees.
A few big scrums later and Blackheath seem to be flagging a little in their defense and dropping their discipline. Janet exclaiming “Why is he giving so many penalties” gives Barnes the impetus to break the line and score a try. Thanks J!
17v7 (55mins)
At this point Conor leaves the media center to have some stern words with Rob which apparently couldn’t be delivered through their Britney mics. Also during this period, we discovered the joys of battery sharing (it’s the future guys) and thus some of the rugby wasn’t watched.
Jackie is given a team yellow card, and the mood on the pitch dips for the Blackheath team. More missed tackles allow Barnes to capitalize and run it down the wing to score again.
17v12 (65mins)
The last 15minutes of this game feels like a fever dream and as such my notes reflect my mounting panic. Blackheath haven’t given up yet; they press the line with breaks from Joka, Hutch, Becca, Jackie, Amy Parkes (6), Ellis and Clem.
A Blackheath scrum in the Barnes half gave the women another chance, Sophie popping out from the back passing to Clem who chips through to Joka, who dives on the ball under the posts, but the ref calls knock on over the line.
A scrum penalty and another try denied from the ref leaves Amelia raging. Blackheath keep pushing against the Barnes defense to get more points on the board but fatigue has set in and nothing seems to be working.
Barnes take a scrum and Blackheath give a mighty last effort to push them off the ball, Ruby gets the ball and passes to Brit who sprints up the pitch, passing to our winger. She darts up the touchline with the tryline in sight but is tackled into touch.
At this point, I’m screaming so loud that my husband has given up sitting next to me and has moved downwind… rude. Barnes win their lineout and go back onto the attack. They kick through and Brit, with the calm exterior that only an Aussie can possess, taps it out into touch finishing the match and securing Blackheath’s first win of the season.
Final score 17 v 12
- Forward of the Match – Sophie D
- Back of the Match – Becca (plus first cap!)
- Shark of the Match – Amy P
- Remora Shark – Sophie D
Deafened Neil
Your match reporter, Rebecca Carter, with the winning team
LATEST NEWS
