Sharks travelled the 500 mile round trip to take on Richmond Ladies at the Athletics Ground, Richmond for their second premiership encounter of the 2015/16 season.
The visitors kicked off and both teams made a bright start with possession changing hands several times, but with Sharks taking the initiative by keeping Richmond camped in their own half for the first 10 minutes. Richmond tried to break out, but good pressure from DMP Sharks forced the last pass to be spilt and from the resulting scramble, Fiona Davidson made a break for the line to touch down on the right hand side of the posts on 11 minutes for a 0 – 5 lead to the Sharks. Sam Jamieson kicked the subsequent conversion to take the score to 0 – 7
This seemed to shock Richmond into action and they applied immediate pressure onto the Sharks, when England prop,Victoria Cornborough, blasted through the Shark’s defence looking certain to go all the way but for a great tackle by fullback Jen Lloyd-Edwards. However, the ball was successfully popped up to supporting winger, Kiri Lose for her to touch down on the left hand side. The conversion was missed, making the score 5 – 7 on 15 minutes.
Richmond had started to take hold of the game and were now on the front foot. Sharks dug in and managed to keep them at bay, but Richmond’s domination in the scrum told in the end, providing good ball for the backs, who showed quick hands to allow winger, Holly Myers, to touch down in the left hand corner on 25 minutes. The conversion was again missed, taking the score to 10 – 7 to the home side.
Richmond continued to go from strength to strength, keeping DMP Sharks pinned well into their own 22, despite the fierce tackling from Fi Davidson, Tammy Taylor and Abbie Scott, to name but a few. The ball was again moving well through the Richmond hands, resulting in Kiri Lose touching down for her second try in the left hand corner on 36 minutes. With the extras again not taken, the score was now 15 – 7 to Richmond.
Sharks continued to battle under strong pressure from the home side and managed to keep the score to 15 – 7 at halftime.
Richmond kicked off the second half as they finished the first, on the front foot, putting Sharks under pressure straight from the kick off. Camped in the Shark’s 22, Richmond were awarded a penalty, just left of the posts and opted to take a scrum instead, allowing their strong pack to drive over and No 8 Rebecca Rowe to drop down over the try line on 48 minutes. The conversion was successfully kicked by Jackie Shiels, taking the score to 22 – 7 to Richmond.
Sharks were now well under the cosh, which was intensified when Sarah Bush was yellow carded for an infringement. Again, Richmond selected to scrum rather than take the penalty, driving over the line for a copy cat try to the previous, with a drop over the try line. The conversion was missed making the score now 27 – 7 to Richmond on 55 minutes.
The pressure remained constant from the home side and the flood gates started to open. The introduction of former England veteran, Amy Turner, at half time had provided a dangerous kicking option for Richmond, which they mixed well with strong running attacks at the Shark’s defence, moving the ball well through the hands. They were also more aggressive at the breakdown, which ensured they kept possession as they moved up the pitch at will. Sharks continued to battle but struggled to find an answer to the continual onslaught.
Substitute prop, Ellisha Dee came on at the 60 minute mark and immediately made an impact with a powerful drive over the line from 5 metres out on 63 minutes. Jackie Shiels kicked the extras to take the score to 34 – 7 to Richmond.
The match continued in the same vein with Richmond breaking down the right hand side straight from the re-start, resulting in Oli Davies running in a try, which was converted to take the score to 41 – 7 on 67 minutes.
Sharks just didn’t have an answer and their heads had now started to drop, making it easier for Richmond to attack at will. The home side were now on fire, working the ball well through the hands in textbook style and with support options were ever they looked. Holly Myers touched down in the left hand corner for her second try on 70 minutes and with the kick not converted, the score was now 46 – 7.
From the restart, Amy Turner kicked the ball straight back into the Shark’s 22 with substitute fullback, Fiundi Parker, getting caught in possession, resulting in a quick penalty being taken and England Hooker, Emma Croker, scoring in the left hand corner on 72 minutes. The conversion was missed taking the score to 51 – 7
More of the same continued, with Holly Myers making a great break down the left hand touch line, only to be held up over the try line by a brilliant try saving tackle by substitute fullback, Fiundi Parker. Unfortunately, from the resulting scrum, the ball was passed quickly across to the right hand side of the pitch, for Kiri Lose to score her third try in the corner, taking the score to 56 – 7 on 77 minutes.
The match finished with a final try from a dominant Richmond, following another drive over scrum, to take the final score to 61 – 7 to Richmond
This was a heavy loss for the Sharks despite some heroic efforts from the players. They need to put this behind them, regroup and be ready for their next challenge against Aylesford, at home, next week.
Report courtesy of DMP Sharks
