Source: Craig Thomas/JMP

Valkyries overpowered by Richmond

  • +1

Worcester Valkyries fell to a 48-12 defeat to Richmond Women in Round 4 of the Tyrrells Premier 15s at Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday.

Winger Emelie Hellgren opened the scoring in the second minute for the hosts before full-back Katherine Wallis crossed after 15 minutes as Richmond built an early lead.

Rowena Burnfield then went over and Abi Chamberlain’s third straight conversion gave them a 21-0 advantage.

But Worcester hit back almost immediately when Brooke Clarke beat four defenders to touch down after a neatly-worked move from the scrum, to leave the score at 21-5 at the break.

The hosts then showed their strength at the set-piece to win a penalty try near the hour-mark as they secured the try-bonus point.

But Clarke hit back once again for Valkyries as she collected the ball inside the Richmond half and outpaced the covering defence to the tryline and Zoe Bennion converted.

At 28-12 Worcester hoped to bounce back but scores for Kirsty Lee-Griffiths and Claire Phelps stretched the hosts’ lead before late tries for replacements Elizabeth Povey and Emily Stone saw the young Valkyries condemned to a 48-12 defeat.

Timeline
02m | Hellgren try 5-0
02m | Chamberlain con 7-0
15m | Wallis try 12-0
15m | Chamberlain con 14-0
23m | Burnfield try 19-0
23m | Chamberlain con 21-0
26m | Clarke try 21-5
56m | Penalty try 28-5
59m | Clarke try 28-10
59m | Bennion con 28-12
60m | Griffiths try 33-12
65m | Phelps try 38-12
70m | Povey try 43-12

72m | Stone try 48-12

Valkyries | 15 Vicky Laflin, 14 Brooke Clarke, 13 Megan Varley, 12 Zoe Bennion, 11 Alexia McGahan (Gingell 60), 10 Beth James, 9 Sam Parker (Herring 60); 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Lark Davies (C), 3 Lauren Leatherland (English 40), 4 Helena Bunce, 5 Ruth Black (James 70), 6 Madeleine Roslund (Wilcock 55), 7 Keeli Wood, 8 Cara Brincat

Replacements | 16 Carmen Tremelling (Gondwe 40), 17 Nat English, 18 Kirstin James, 19 Charlie Wilcock, 20 Rebecca Herring, 21 Jas Clark, 22 Lia Gingell
Report courtesy of Worcester Valkyries