It was a sunny but cold winter afternoon at the Northern Echo arena as Sharks ladies welcomed Bristol ladies for the latest round of the RFU Senior Cup.
Photo: DMP Sharks
From kick off Sharks Lisa Cockburn fielded the ball well and ran back at the Bristol defence with intent, the ball was quickly recycled and passed out to fly half Rebecca Scholes, she shipped it out quickly to Captain Georgina Roberts who put full back Emma Harbage in space, Harbage turned on the afterburners showing great feet and strength to brush off the covering tackles only to be stopped by an excellent cover tackle from Bristol’s Taz Bricknell who forced the knock on.
Bristol responded with some excellent attacking play of their own, as they forced themselves deep into Sharks territory, only to be stopped by a trademark chop tackle from Georgina Roberts, as young prop Amy Needham got quickly over the ball to secure the penalty.
Bristol increased the pressure which told in the 16th minute when Sharks no 13 Mackenzie Thomas was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on in the Sharks 22m.
Bristol made the numbers count 2 minutes later when Kate Newton crossed over the line with a pick up from the back of a maul to dot down under the post (converted by Bryony Cleall) leaving the score on 18 mins Sharks 0 Bristol 7.
Bristol’s confidence was up and they continued to pressurise the Sharks defence which held firm until the 26th minute when Bristol’s Daisy Travers crossed the line (not converted) leaving the score Sharks 0 Bristol 12.
Sharks responded well, and a solid scrum gave the platform to get the ball out to the backs deep in Bristol’s half. Great interplay between the backs and service from scrum half Emma Lloyd Edwards to Georgina Roberts saw a long pass out to full back Emma Harbage who powered over the line to score wide out on the right (not converted) leaving the score on 32 minutes Sharks 5 Bristol 12.
Sharks were on the front foot and when Bristol’s No 9, Taz Bricknell, opted to kick to relieve the pressure, it was fielded well by Sharks full back Harbage, who again turned on the after burners to power up field, only to be stopped by a great tackle on the halfway line. Quick recycled ball saw Georgnia Roberts kick ahead to give Bristol a line out inside their own 22, the lineout was secured and cleared by Bristol, Sharks ran the ball back with interest which led to an infringement by Bristol, giving Sharks a scrum on Bristol’s 5 metre line.
Quick ball from the base of the scrum by no 8 Heather Kerr to scrum half Emma Lloyd Edwards on to fly half Scholes out to Roberts saw wing Elle Pitcher power over in the corner for her first ever Sharks try (not converted) leaving the score Sharks 10 Bristol 12 at half time.
Sharks got the second half underway and, as in the first half, play was very even with both sides attacking and defending well, on the 57 min Sharks increasing pressure told when Bristol’s Bryony Cleall was shown the yellow card for dissent.
Sharks made the most of the numbers when on 64 mins they had two massive carries from both Georgina Roberts and prop Amy Needham who got them within 1 metre of the try line. Quick recycled ball saw Emma Lloyd Edwards pass out to fly half Rebecca Scholes who dummy passed inside creating space and powered through the gap created to score (unconverted) leaving the score Sharks 15 Bristol 12.
Shark’s tails were up and on 68 mins Heather Kerr raced from the back of a scrum gaining great territory before passing out to Georgina Roberts who powered forward only to be tackled just 5 metres short of the try line. Quick service from Lloyd Edwards out to winger Warrington, who demonstrated fantastic determination strength and power to go through Bristol’s defence to score out wide on the right hand side (not converted) leaving the score Sharks 20 Bristol 12.
Sharks continued to pressure the Bristol line only to be kept at bay by resilient defence, Sharks were not finished when on 80 minutes a fantastic dive pass from Lloyd Edwards out to Warrington saw her find Georgina Roberts who threw a fantastic miss pass out to no 13 Mackenzie Thomas she turned on the speed, showing great feet, to round Bristol’s defence only to be stropped by a fantastic last ditch tackle by Bristol’s Annouska Gregovich but it was all for nothing as the referee awarded a penalty try as a Bristol defender was offside at the ruck.
Final score Sharks 25 Bristol 12.
Report courtesy of DMP Sharks
