Richmond beat Worcester Ladies 41-10 this Sunday, meaning that they have won all four of their matches this season. This weekend also marks the 1st teams’s 450th competitive win in the club’s history.
Worcester kicked off, and soon reached Richmond’s twenty-two, where they were awarded a line-out. Richmond responded with good defensive pressure, but were penalised, allowing Worcester to kick to touch, and secure possession at the line-out, this time on Richmond’s five metre line. Richmond then managed to overturn the resulting maul, and, through shipping it out to their winger Holly Myers, got the ball away from their danger zone.
The ball now stayed largely between the two twenty-twos, with neither team able to break through their opposition. Strong runs from the Richmond back line, including centre Alicia McComish and the back three combination of Oli Davies, Kiri Lose and Myers, gained ground, however basic handling errors spoilt the fluidity of the game. The first try came from Jackie Shiels, who burst through the defensive line, bringing the score to 5-0.
The Richmond forwards showed great strength and skill in both their scrummaging and their line outs. Fiona Fletcher took the ball from one scrum, and made good ground, before the ball was recycled for the backs. Anna Caplice then took the ball as a strong forward runner, and scored, making the score 10-0.
Worcester scored next, through several long runs, each with successful offloads. They took the ball out of their danger zone and into Richmond’s twenty-two, before scoring, and making it 10-5. This score remained until half time.
The second half began with a strong kick-off from Richmond, which Fiona Fletcher chased, tackling Worcester’s scrum half Bianca Blackburn as soon as she caught the ball. The heavy pressure continued, until Richmond stole possession. Emma Croker scored under the posts, and Jackie Shiels converted. 17-5.
Richmond turned over the ball again, this time from a lineout, in which Rowena Burnfield swooped in front the Worcester jumper. Richmond then kicked the ball, pushing Worcester back for another line out, and then they won a scrum, further gaining territory. Vik Cornborough ran through several defenders, who could only hang on as she powered past, and offloaded to Anna Caplice, who almost scored. The forwards scored soon after as a joint pack, making it 22-5.
The game then returned largely to the middle third of the pitch, until almost half an hour into the second half, when a series of strong runs accumulated in a lineout five metres away from Worcester’s try line. Richmond’s forwards pushed over the line, to make the score 27-5.
Tess scored Richmond’s next try, which Shiels converted. She then helped set up another try, along with Burnfield, who impressively caught Worcester’s kick-off at a run, and Vik Cornborough did yet another outstanding run. Laura Kapo finished the try off with her signature cannonball move, which no defender can stand against. Shiels again converted, making the score 41-5.
Worcester put in a final push just before the final whistle, and scored, making the final score 41-10.
Richmond Team:
- Vic Cornborough 2. Emma Croker 3. Chloe Edwards 4. Sara Anastasi 5. Rowena Burnfield 6. Fi Fletcher 7. Anna Caplice 8. Beccs Rowe 9. Jade Wong 10. Amy Turner 11. Holly Myers 12. Jackie Shiels 13. Alicia McComish 14. Kiri Lose 15. Ollie Davies 16. Laura Kapo 17. Tess Forsberg 18. Nicole Kwee
