There couldn’t be a starker illustration of the gulf in commitment to women’s sport than with the staging of the London women’s Sevens this weekend at The Stoop. The contrast of this low key affair, to the fanfare showcase event taking place across the road at Twickenham is incredible.
How disappointing for all the athletes involved, particularly after the crowds that turned up in Canada to enjoy the rugby and support their teams.
Also, at the end of the competition to play the final and 3rd place games at Twickenham, was almost worse. Some of the Australian fans were bewildered that they would have to go across the road and buy more tickets in order to see their team play in the final and I’m sure the same applied to the Americans, Canadians and New Zealanders.
However, for the partisan crowd at The Stoop the competition had the best possible result, the home team playing in the Plate Final – the last game of the day at this ground. Moments before I had heard a young woman behind me complain that there was no atmosphere and she was right, the crowd wasn’t big enough to generate a proper sporting occasion atmosphere.
All that changed the moment the England players ran onto the pitch for the Plate Final. We may have been small in numbers but the noise generated was massive: cheering and singing a very off-key Swing Low. It was fabulous.
As was the performance on the pitch, England really stepped up their game and put in a huge performance against France. On top from the beginning, Jo Watmore ran in two tries and Kay Wilson put the icing on the cake with the third, to the delight of the crowd.
The tries only tell part of the story, the tackles all across the pitch were immense and prevented France getting any kind of a foothold in the game. Ball distribution was also really good with play dragging France from side to side – they looked a very tired team against a rejuvenated England.
Importantly, England have now gained vital points in the race to automatic qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio, although lying in 6th place with just one leg to go there are only 2 points between 4th and 6th, so all to play for in Amsterdam next week.
The trophy was presented (as with the Bowl) in a little presentation on the far side of the pitch facing away from the majority of the spectators.
However, the crowd were delighted when the players all came across to receive their deserved applause and to meet up with friends, family and sign lots of autographs as well of course appear in the obligatory selfies.
All in all a good day, but it could have been so much better.
