IS Ladies 9’s Tournament

The tournament was played under a heavy grey sky and although warm there was a strong breeze blowing across the park bring intermittent light drizzle to test the ladies ball skills.

RN v RAF The first match of the day featured the home side taking on the RAF, the RN ladies have suffered all season with player availability and today was no exception, fielding the smallest of the three squads just 13 players the Wrenegades came up against a well drilled RAF side coached by Andy Smales. The RAF were on the board first, a well worked move saw the ball out to the left and taken on by Mahaela Attis who beat the RN defence to touchdown in the corner. Attis was on the board again with her second halfway through the first period to give her side an 8-0 lead. Whilst the RN were not playing badly a couple of handing errors surrendered possession to the visitors and with each half only lasting 8 minutes ball retention is vital to success however their efforts were rewarded almost on the half time whistle Nat Bavister crossed for the Wrenegades to close the gap, 4-8 at the break. The second half was a closer game with RN making good yards through midfield but again giving away possession meant they were n the back foot. The RAF continued to take advantage of these errors and Attis completed her hat trick and was able to touchdown behind the posts giving Gabrielle Hignett a straight forward conversion. To round off the scoring Louise Deakin crossed late on, again getting close enough to the posts to give Hignett another good conversion chance which she slotted home to make the final score 4-20 to the RAF.

RN Ladies;-. Fiesha Green (Capt), Sarah Jenkins (Vice Capt), Emma Swinton, Stacey Hargrave, Kate Parkman, Rhian Dilmore, Pippa Hutchinson, Vicky Stansfield, Marie Hallam, Alice Kightly, Allanah Pope, Natalie Bavister, Drew Powell – Coach Mr Steven Smallbone

RAF Ladies:- Donna Mckenzie-Phillps, Jo Drew, Linda McLean, Courtney Osler, Courtenay Smith, Mahayla Attis, Louise Deakin, Alice Fisher, Kim Williams, Tanya Woodfield, Jena McDowell, Sophie Gale, Gabrielle Hignett, Gemma Nutt, Chelsea Owen, Kerry Colgan, Becky Goddard, Robyn Bernasconi - Coach Andy Smales
RAF v Army
Despite the lack of points this match proved to be a thriller, going into the game the Army Ladies have been invincible in the 8 or so years of the Ladies competition winning all their matches very convincingly, however the team is going through a re build having lost several key players of late. The RAF confident after their win over the RN were more than a match for the soldiers in all departments especially in the forwards giving little ground in defence. The normally speedy wing division of the Army could not get going on the day and their attacks were snuffed out well by the RAF defence. Despite several half breaks no scores were recorded by either side during the first half and it remained scoreless at the break. Into the second half and buoyed by the score line at half time the RAF appeared even more confident matching Army throughout. As the game drew to a close it looked like a bit of history was on the cards however the Army never gave up and almost on the full time whistle Elycha Watson took the ball in her own half and won the sprint through midfield to the line to give her side the narrowest of wins and to break the hearts of the RAF Ladies, Final score RAF 0-4 Army.
Army Ladies:- Sarah Ashton, Rose Amaning- Agyarko, Jenny Stanley, Elycha Watson, Calista Ibbotson, Emily White, Ema Lamolagi, Gillian F Campbell , Anabel Whitecross, Laura Latimer, Jessica McCauley, Yasmin Suer, Jade Newman, Harriett Clapp, Emma Farmer- Compton – Coach Chris Able

Army v RN
The final match of the tournament saw the home side, grateful for the break between matches, take on the Army. A much better and more confident display by the RN saw them match the Army across the park with the forwards led by skipper Fiesha Green making a lot of yards through midfield. It was the Army though that posted the first points of the game, Jade Newman crossing for the score following her introduction into the competition. The score remained game remained 0-4 in favour of the Army for the rest of the half with both sides putting on a good show for the spectators. The second half deadlock was broken by McCauley who again crossed to double her sides score, 0-8. The RN rallied and again were rewarded out wide, this time debutant Drew Powell touched down for her side. The Army crossed once more in the game thus securing the Inter Services trophy for another year but credit to the other two sides who made the most of the reduced competition to put on a great show on behalf of Services Ladies Rugby League.
The player of the tournament trophy went to Mahaela Attis for a devastating show of back play on her way to a hat trick in the first match.