Inter Services Round 1 - Wrenegades v Army Women

It was a huge challenge for the RN side but to their credit the fought well against the skilful Army side who were obviously used to playing together a team demonstrating fantastic skills on the ball as well as great support play. The Wrenegades for their part contributed much to the match holding off the determined Army attack for 15 minutes or so before the Army registered their first score, centre Caz Roberts converting her own score after beating the RN cover. Despite resolute defence, the RN could not get the break in attack and the Soldiers continued to press for more points. As the half ran down to the break the army went over a further five times with a couple more conversions to lead 0:30 at halftime. A huge plus for the Wrenegades throughout the half was the massively increased skill levels notably in defence highlighted by a passage of play towards the end of the half when the Army had three shots at the RN line and were pushed back on all three occasions eventually coughing up the ball giving possession to the RN.

The second half was pretty much the same as the first with the RN, led from stand off by Olivia Critchley, doing everything they could to get the elusive score but to no avail and the Army continued to score at regular intervals racking up another 30 points during the half to give a final score of 60 to the soldiers. Nonetheless a great effort by the Wrenegades which bodes well for the second IS match against the RAF at Featherstone on 20th September. Player of The Match went to Army No1 Full back Abby Eatock.

Whilst the result may not have been in doubt the increase in skills and confidence demonstrated by the Wrenegades is great testament to the efforts of Coach Matt Bowen, manager Courtnée Jade and Trainer Dave Hemming over the season as well as the players themselves who did themselves proud on the day.

A huge thanks to players from both sides who carried on singing the National Anthem despite USSG’s aging sound system giving up the tune halfway through, thank you Ladies

RN Wrenegades
Susan Badger, Jodie Mills, Sian McLaughlin, Emma Ochiltree, Josie Parnaby, Olivia Critchley (C)
Sam Alderson (V/C), Jess Bryan, Emma Swinton, Te Whaiora Horomia-Kaiwai, Lauren Beale, Lucy Honeybell, Abigail Sondack, Helen Taylor, Rhian Dilmore

Army Women
Abby Eatock, Jess MacAuley, Caz Roberts, Ella Donnelly, Jess Williams, Matilda Butler, Emily White, Victoria Lea, Bella Inglis, Emma Farmer-Campbell, Beth Dainton, Shannon Bennett, Laura Latimer, Nicole Frew, Jade Kavanagh- Barnes, Angela Carr, Ellie Rain, Sarah Michelson, Jane Ball, Victoria Parkes