Lichfield Ladies travelled to Henley Hawks for their first game in this year’s RFU Women’s Senior Cup. Despite a decent performance from the home side, Lichfield put in a good performance, showing their class in a 47-7 away win.
With a much changed team, due to international commitments, Lichfield, playing with the wind in the first half, scored the first of their seven tries after 6 minutes, with Alice Hodgkinson breaking clear on the wing to touch down. She followed that with another similar try after 25 minutes. Jess Robinson and Sarah Tooze added two further tries after 34 and 38 minutes, to give Lichfield a significant lead. Sarah Nicholas, in outstanding form with the boot, landed all four conversions in tricky conditions to make the half time score 28-0 to Lichfield.
The second half proved more difficult for Lichfield, playing against the wind. Despite a much improved performance from the home side, Lichfield remained solid in defence and were able to add three further tries from Nancy Stone on 53 and 71 minutes and Maddy Lockwood after 58 minutes, together with two more conversions from the boot of Sarah Nicholas.
Henley Hawks, desperate to avoid a whitewash, got themselves a consolation try and conversion on 73 minutes after an excellent chip through by their fly half Catherine Wilcock. With the final score 47-7 to Lichfield
Commenting on the game Head Coach Richard Bennett said “These ties are always tricky and this was no exception. We had a much changed side out today, who had not played together before, but in the end we got a hard fought and well deserved victory.
I thought our defensive tackling was excellent and our forwards put in a really good performance in the scrum. But credit to Henley, they tested us throughout the game particularly in the lineout. We took our chances well and by landing nearly all of the conversions, ensured a good winning margin.”
Henley Hawks Ladies – 7 Lichfield Ladies – 47
Lichfield Scorers:
Tries: Alice Hodgkinson (6, 25 mins), Jess Robinson (34 mins), Sarah Tooze (38 mins), Nancy Stone (53, 71 mins), Maddy Lockwood (58 mins)
Conversions: Sarah Nicholas x 6
Henley Hawks Scorer:
Try: Catherine Wilcock
Conversion: Catherine Wilcock
Report courtesy of Lichfield Ladies
