Inter Services Round 3- RAF Women 10 : 10 Wrenegades

Things did not get off to the best of starts for the RN with an RAF try following back to back sets, Alice Barnes with the td but no conversion, 0:4. The Wrenegades got themselves back into the game and proved more than a match for the RAF, Jess Bryan in particular having a great game in both attack and defence. Despite both sides having chances during the half the last pass did not seem to stick and it remained 0:4 at the break. Playing up the slope the Wrenegades took the game to the RAF and were rewarded with a try after barely 5 minutes of the half. A fantastic show of strength and determination by Sian McLaughlin at Loose forward saw her beat the efforts of the RAF defence to score under the posts, Sam Alderson converted and the RN were in the lead. Despite their best efforts the RN conceded back to back penalties which the RAF capitalized on, Alex Barnes crossing to the left of the posts and with Lynne Brookers conversion the RAF regained the lead 6:10. The rest of the half was a see saw affair with both sides threatening to score but stiff resistance by both defences prevented any further points. The game was tied up in the dying stages by veteran RN player Sarah Jenkins who had made a massive impact since coming on from the bench with some great crossfield kicks which on another day would have given the RN an unbeatable lead. However, as the game entered the final stages Jenkins took the ball from 10 metres out and crashed through the tired RAF defence to tie the scores at 10:10. Sam Aldersons conversion attempt went just wide so the scores remained tied at the end of the regular 80 minutes. So for the second week in succession it was Golden Point time, both sets of players had given their all during the 80 minutes with both benches exhausted and players taking knocks across the pitch so it was decided that after 15 minutes of extra play to stop the game and record it as an honorable draw between two teams who gave everything for the cause. The RN may have felt a bit hard done to as the finished marginally the stronger but it was a great advert for the development of the Womens game within the RN and RAF.

RN Wrenegades
Drew Powell, Josie Parnaby, Georgia Cocks, Becky Bowskill, Emma Ochiltree, Olivia Critchley (vc)
Sam Alderson (C), Jessica Bryan, Emma Swinton, Lucy Honeybell, Lauren Beale, Abi Sondack, Sian McLaughlin, Susan Badger, Molly James, Yvonne Mealy, Sarah Jenkins, Te Whaiora Horomia-Kaiwa

RAF Women
Hayley Needes, Beth Vasey, Kathryn Robinson, Charlotte Williams, Amelia Doel, Lynne Brooker, Linda McClean, Rosie Hedger, Louise Pritchard, Katie Johnson, Alice Fisher, Annie Allen, Alex Barnes, Jardine Devereaux, Eloise Messom, Jo Belgrau, Lucy Cooke, Rachel Watson