Wrenegades 16:34 Army Women

The Army were on the scoreboard after only three minutes No 9 Annabelle Whitecross scoring a typical hookers try from the play the ball almost on the RN line 0:4. The home side came back in the best possible way barely 5 minutes later, Prop Pippa Hutchinson taking advantage of Army error to level the scores out wide 4:4 after 7 minutes. The see-saw manner of the game continued throughout the first half, on 15 minutes Army No 4 Hannah Knox broke the RN defence to score her first of the game, no conversion 4:8. The Army stretched their lead to 8 points soon after, Whitecross again scoring in almost a carbon copy of her first effort, still no conversions 4:12. After seeing her front row partner score earlier RN no10 Stacey Hargreave brought her team back into contention with a fine score, converted by her skipper Sam Alderson to bring the RN right back in contention at 10:12. The half closed though with the Army stretching their lead once again with a second for Knox 10-16 at the break. Despite a great effort by the RN the Army ladies dominated the third quarter of the game running in 18 unanswered points with trys for Prop Kelly Paling (2) and winger Gallagher, three conversions by skipper Toni Tomkins completed their scoring. It was however the RN who had the last word, a great finish by replacement centre Lauren Beale was equally well converted by Alderson to give a final score of 16:34 to the Army. Army skipper Toni Tomkins took the player of the match after a great showing at standoff and with her kicking in the second half. For the RN their skipper Sam Alderson was nominate as the RN player of the match leading from the front in both attack and defence.

Whilst the results have not gone the way of the RN the resurgence of the Wrenegades has been the highlight of this years IS competition. Whilst Coach Fraser Leach has been away on duty, stalwart of the Womens game and RNRL in general Steve Smallbone stepped up to the plate and coached the RN Women to two great performances. He knows what the ladies think of him (!) but all involved in RNRL thank him for his continuous devotion to RNRL.

RN Wrenegades – Olivia Critchley, Sian McLaughlin, Victoria Stansfield, Billi Staite, Drew Powell, Lovenia Vakuruirala, Sam Alderson (C), Pippa Hutchinson, Emma Swinton, Stacey Hargreave, Fiesha Greene, Helen Stevenson, Suzie Badger. Reps Megan Meyer, Courtney Shipman, Leanne Kelland Lauren Beale, Elise Sarah Broughton, Allanah Pope.

Scorers T Hutchinson, Hargreave, Beale
G Alderson(2)

Army – Matilda Butler, Rosemond Keselau, Ashley Gallagher, Hannah Knox, Kelera Tuilavoni, Toni Tomkins , Laura Latimer, Kelly Paling, Annabelle Whitecross, Jen Wuehr, Shannon Riley, Charlotte Rigby, Jo Nawapavou, Reps Gillian Campbell, Helen Richardson, Collette Broome, Elychia Watson

Scorers T Whitecross (2)Knox (2) Payling (2) Gallagher
G Tomkins 3 Cons