Drybrook Ladies 60pts
Wimbledon Ladies 0pts
The squirrels had a point to prove after their loss to Newbury the week before and turned up focused and ready to smash the opposition.
Drybrook played away from the Clubhouse, received the kick and hit Wimbledon hard from the start; within minutes a break from speedster Hannah Meek, weaving through the Wimbledon defence to score, gave Drybrook the lead. A missed conversion made the score 5-0.
Fifteen minutes of strong attacking play saw Drybrook gaining 20m, from a powerful driving maul, with the Wimbledon defence powerless in its path. A quick pass from scrum-half Sarah beavan saw the ball whipped out to the backs and across the pitch. Quick offloads and footwork from Carly Whent and Ellie Underwood set up for full-back Judith Lack to smash through several defenders to score a belter of a try. No conversion which took the score to 10-0.
Within 10 minutes Underwood made a break to score under the posts and converted to making the score 17-0.
Feeling the buzz Drybrook stepped up the intensity with several turnovers from no. 8 Kirsty Gwilliam who was working relentlessly in defence and attack.
This was working well for Drybrook until Gwilliam got in to difficulty, surrounded by Wimbledon forwards, shouting “help”. Several forwards piled in to assist and drive forward, but alas, the ball was lost.
Several minutes later Lucie Smith defended well and floored the opposition – creating a loose ball. A quick pick-up from flanker Emma Gibson saw Drybrook back in attack…and it was try time. A strong carry and excellent offload saw Underwood score under the posts once again and convert to take the score to 24-0.
The rest of the first half remained much the same with a try from winger Whent, who is proving to be a strong asset to the team, converted by Underwood. Drybrook added two more tries and a conversion to the score sheet to make the score at half time 43-0.
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As the second half began it was clear that Wimbledon had upped their game from the off, testing the Drybrook defence and preventing them from scoring until 20 minutes in. A break from the dynamic inside centre Meek lead to her scoring under the posts, which was of course, converted by Underwood making the score 50-0.
From this Drybrook worked hard in attack and defence, with Wimbledon making several breaks through their defence. However, with
strong tackles from Kara Tucker and Underwood, they were unsuccessful.
At 70 minutes Whent made a strong run past several defenders to score the penultimate try of the game – with the conversion from Underwood to take the score to 55-0.
Drybrook were not finished yet; winger Pixie-Rose received the ball and keen to make her mark on the game made a strong run, flooring the defence, and smashing over the line to score the final try of the game in the corner. No conversion making the final score 60-0.
Special mention for Helen Goode and Shelley Bourne who were subbed on ready for some of the action, only for the final whistle to go after several seconds.
Drybrook Ladies: 1. Lucie Smith 2. Stevie Leigh Liddiatt 3 Julie-Ann Marie Norbury 4. Roxsanne Carter 5. Hannah Jane 6. Micha Harris 7. Emma Rachael Gibson 8. Kirsty Gwilliam 9. Sarah Bevan 10. Kara Tucker 11. Carly Whent 12. Hannah Meek 13. Ellie Underwood (captain) 14. Kat Brain 15. Judith Lack
Replacements: 16. Jess Hunt 17. Natasha Kibble 18. Karina Hall 19. Lauren Wall 20. Pixi Rose 21. Shelley Bourne 22. Helen Goode
