Arguably the most dramatic game of the 2016 Women’s Associations Cup took place last weekend as England University and Colleges beat the GB Armed Forces 21-16.
England University & Colleges Photo: Ainsley Bennett
The England side enjoyed an almost perfect start as Kelsey Gentles got over on two minutes, but GB’s Jade Newman quickly made it 4-4, before Sophie Gale added the goal.
The Armed Forces then extended their lead on the stroke of half time, Newman notching her second try of the game, Gale converting, to hand their team a 12-4 interval lead.
A fast start to the second period saw the Great Britain side stretch their lead out to 12 points after Newman completed her hat trick.
GB Armed Forces Photo: Ainsley Bennett
With just over half an hour to play, the University and College representatives were staring at defeat, but they launched a stirring fightback to claim the spoils.
A minute after Newman’s score, Chloe Richardson responded with a four-pointer of her own to make it 8-16, before the 51st minute saw the England side close to within two points thanks to Tara Stanley, who improved her own score to make it 14-16.
Stanley then hammered over a penalty goal to level the tie, before late drama followed with the full back kicking a drop goal to edge her side one point ahead on 73 minutes.
Sinead Peach then added extra gloss to the scoreline with a late try to make it 21-16.
Meanwhile in the other tie, England Lionesses moved one step closer to Associations Cup success with a comfortable 38-10 win over GB Teachers last week.
GB Teachers Photo: Ainsley Bennett
Sarah Dunn opened the scoring, before Natalie Harrowell’s try, plus a Katie Cooper-Birkenhead goal made it 10-0.
Sarah Harrison then notched a quickfire brace either side of the half hour mark, with Cooper-Birkenhead adding one more goal to leave the Lionesses 20-0 up at the break.
Two more converted tries followed, Gemma Walsh and Kayleigh Bullman going over, with Cooper-Birkenhead taking her tally to four goals.
That put the England side 32-0 up with half an hour to play, but the Teachers mustered a response within two minutes as Sammy Simpson claimed her side’s first try.
Though Cooper-Birkenhead converted Jenny Welsby’s 65th-minute try, Shona Hoyle claimed the final four-pointer of the match to ensure late cheer for the losing side.
Lead photo features the England Lionesses.
Report courtesy of the RFL.
