Corps Women’s Match Reports

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Army Women 66pts – Royal Navy nil – 09 May 11
RLC 20pts – REME 10 – 30 March 11
Army Dominate US West Point Academy – 19 March 11
Inter Corps League Competition – 2 March 11
REME (27) v RLC (10) – 20 Oct 10
RA (5) v REME (36) – 6 Oct 10

Army Women 66pts – Royal Navy nil

Dani Phan Bursts Through

It may have felt like the Bani-Dani Show but above all this was an exceptional team effort forged on the Queen’s Avenue pitches on cold February nights. It was, to date, the pinnacle of Army women’s rugby.

That the Army won by a thumping 66pts-nil masks a tale of great rugby where the unsung heroes played a major role in launching the strike force off the runway.
Maybe it was a one sided contest but the Navy put up a gallant fight against an Army team that came ‘hot’ on the day. None of the tries were ‘soft’ and the language seeping up from the depths of the bilges may, on occasion, have been a little raw but there was no doubting the determination of the Navy to carry the scrap forward to the whistle.

Rosie Haigh In Unstoppable Mode

At 26 pts—nil the Army put on an exhibition for head coach Dean Lewis and two supporting coaches Gary Hearn and Lee Whetton who leave the Army at the end of the season.
 

The Skipper Scores

Dani Phan completed her hat trick and replacement Rosie Randfield and skipper Sarah Mitchelson each bagged a pair. Remarkably (?) eight of the ten tries were converted by No10 Carina Reeves and scrum half Gemma Stonebridge Smith.

And so to the grafting and skilful forwards who played under the proverbial blanket all match. Lock Rosie Haigh and No8 Kat Woods were immense carrying the ball into the thickest defence to set up options. The front row, with that nugget Maggie-Ann Hodge on the loose head, simultaneously presented the Navy with both a rock and a hard place whilst Lucy Davis was tireless at No6– until invited to warm the bench for ten minutes.

Gemma Stonebridge Smith Clears the Decks

The biggest problem came with the celebratory champagne. Some ‘Loggie’ had remembered to bring a bottle but Kat Woods, jeered to the end, had difficulty opening it!

This has been an excellent season. The team has faced stern opposition including ‘internationals’ against Scotland and Holland and first class clubs from the Premiership.

They scored well over 100 points in the Inter Services championship and looked a happy bunch – in short a great Army team. Hats off to Dean Lewis and his coaching staff, skipper Sarah Mitchelson and all the players.

30 March 11
LOGGIES LADIES HAVE LANDED
RLC 20pts—REME 10

Fiona Cox – progress round the fringes

THE RLC Women retained the Inter Corps league title when they beat the REME in a hugely competitive Final at Aldershot. The match was the climax of some great women’s rugby on Queens Avenue over the cold winter nights.

The names of the finalists were not known until the last minutes of the last league matches had been played out.

A small crowd made sufficient noise to ensure neither side flagged during a spectacle where structured rugby was top of the agenda. Both sides played to a pattern. The RLC drove hard up-front before Army scrum half Sarah Mitchelson released their strike runners. The REME refused the offer of close quarter combat and moved smartly to allow their quick players, such as full back Rosie Ranfield, opportunities in the open spaces.

Rosie Ranfield counter attacks

Both sides were well drilled. Aggressive defence dominated the early exchanges. The large RLC pack shunted the REME back in the set pieces and made the maul a strong feature of turning the REME defence. No8 Fiona Cox was quick and strong in possession and took some stopping around the fringes.

The REME had clearly done their homework and whereas the RLC predictably launched their heavy cavalry in waves, any gaps were always courageously plugged by the REME ‘last gaspers’.

Unable to breach the line, the Loggies took the benefits from 10 minutes of pressure when Tara Ball slotted a penalty.

That might have been a REME wake up call as they started to weave attack patterns and in the second quarter gained both rugby ascendancy and territorial advantage. A series of rucks close to the RLC line opened a sufficiently wide gap for Army lock Rosie Haigh to squeeze through and over. The RLC struck back in short order with a try by winger Charlie Duell for an interval lead of 8pts—5.

Skipper Sarah Michelson hoists the silverware

With first half honours even, the REME emerged visibly pumped-up. Great rugby ebbed and flowed. Whilst No6 Lucy Davies scored for the Loggies whilst centre Cas Roberts quickly replied for the REME. At 13pts—10 only the penalty on 10 minutes separated two worthy winners.

Tired legs responded to the spectators support but equally determined tackling prevented a killer score until RLC centre Charlie Lloyd charged over.

At 20pts—10 the Loggies closed the door, reverted to type and denied the REME possession and any territorial advantage.

REME full back Rosie Ranfield, enterprising and skilful, was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ Trophy having been closely challenged by the brave and tireless RLC No6. Lucy Davies.

Major Eddie Hutton-Fellowes, the happy Manager of the Loggies team said “Victory at last– but it had come at a price. Our players had shown tremendous commitment to each other and the team and hard work throughout the build up and each one really deserved their success”.

Posted: 31 March 2011

19 March 11
ARMY DOMINATE US WEST POINT ACADEMY

Sarah Roper lines it up

The Army Women rang the changes, serially replacing first choice players, as they overcame a spirited United States West Point Academy XV by 74pts—22.

The margin of victory somewhat exaggerated the difference in rugby playing skills across the board. West Point were good in places and phases and scored three excellent tries through speed and good handling.

They were fit but, I suspect, unfamiliar with the power into, and strength in, contact as the Army women thundered into the breakdowns. This sapped overall resilience up-front and, except for the lines-out, a lot of potentially good ball went ‘awol’. Frankly as they move on to Cardiff they probably still wonder what had hit them, where and how often!

Marietta Claasens powers ahead

The Reds were boosted by the clinical finishing of senior players Jojo Joubert (RLC), Rosie Haigh (REME), Shellyann Magic (AMS) and particularly England international Jane Leonard (RE) who played at scrum half, scored three tries and was just too powerful and quick for this standard of rugby. She played for England ‘A’ v Spain at Guildford on 19th March (See attached Brief).

Dani Phan (Int) was as usual precise, polished and clinical as she glided through the gaps to score or set up scoring opportunities.

Dani Phan in glide mode

The Army pack with Rosie Haigh (REME), Kat Woods (AMS), Sarah Roper (RE) and Gemma Mason (RE) controlled the forward play at most times while newcomer Marietta Claasens (AMS) caught the eye as ‘one to watch’.

Well done West Point. There was much to admire about your play, your ball skills, silky running and one-on-one tackling. The combined work in the contact area proved a major difference in experience and led to a pretty lopsided score. You were better than that!

Posted: 21 March 2011

2 March 11
Inter Corps League Competition
ARMY WOMEN BEAT THE BIG FREEZE

Danni Phan (AGC / Int Corps) attacks the REME

Women’s rugby is certainly the fastest growing sport in the Army. Aldershot’s Queens parade sports fields glistened in the March frost, the wind subtracted a degree or so from an already depressed temperature and there wasn’t a snood in sight! On a bitter Wednesday night Aldershot throbbed with the sounds of rugby as the Army Women tackled the final round of the Inter Corps League competition.

The startling and best point was that some 132 women and ‘mixed management’ represented six Corps teams. Some had travelled hundreds of miles simply to be there and the enthusiasm crackled. There was even a women’s referee for the big match.

Royal Signals on the attack

As might be expected the ‘Big Guns’ held sway as the Royal Logistics Corps slammed into the Royal Artillery. The Medical Services however turned the tables on the Signals. In the real showdown the Adjutant General’s Corps, a small necessarily desk bound and highly dispersed group of soldiers overcame, with great style, the much vaunted Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. It was a classic ‘backs versus forwards’. The REME, led into the affray by Wasp’s lock Rosie Haigh, graunched forward, at forward pace, before ceding the initiative, and the ball, to brave brave tackling.

Army players Dani Phan and Alvi Beaney AGC(Int) glided with great ball skills, guile and speed into the counter-attack.. The big freeze was forgotten as more than a handful of spectators experienced the whole spirit of rugby at its best.

Jojo Joubert (RLC) goes for the space

The execution owed much to the perpetual enthusiasm and organizational skill of former England ‘A’ flanker Major Kat Woods. Kat has, with mounting ‘experience’, moved from the back row up to where it all happens and still puts in the hard yards.

Twelve years ago Women’s rugby started with four teams contesting a round-robin 7s during the ‘tea time’ interval at an Army Sevens competition. In 2011 it is strong. Jane Leonard (England) and Laura Marsh (Wales) sit at the top of the representative pedestal but vitally the engine room is powerful, the dispersed parts communicate and it comes together with great strength. The icing on the cake for some will be Army v Navy match at Kneller Hall Twickenham on 7th May. Based on this night alone we are going to see some new faces pulling on the red shirt.

Posted: 7 March 2011

Palestine cup
REME (27) v RLC (10)
20 Oct 10

This was the second game of the season for the REME Women’s team. After the first victory, spirits were high and confidence growing. Training on the Monday night went well and all was set for the game at 1300 hrs on Tuesday 20 October 2010.

Preparation didn’t go well with a few players arriving late due to training commitments. However the team was still up beat and this was proven from the kick off when within 35 secs from our own 30 meter line Rosie Randford broke through the RLC line passing to Cas Roberts who in turn throw a looping pass to our new winger (prop) Stacie ———- who made a few more meter before Cas Roberts received the ball after a run-around move to score a well worked try 5 – 0.

The RLC came back strong and for the next 8-10 mins the REME Women were camped on their line with some excellent defensive work with the RLC failing to score. After some excellent work and a few penalties REME found themselves in the RLC 22 and after being awarded a penalty the skipper took a quick tap penalty and some good inter linking play between forwards and backs allowed Cas Roberts to score her second try which was converted by Kate Surman 12 – 0. The game continued with both teams making mistakes and the game was to and throw.

The second half started with the RLC being dominant pressuring our line once again. The REME were let off the hook with some handling errors. With the wind behind our backs Kate Surman put in an excellent kick into the RLC 22. The chase was good and the fullback sliced the ball which gave us a lineout in the RLC 22. An excellent set piece for the REME allowed Cas Roberts to run at the defence and eventually crossing the whitewash for the REME and her third try. 17 – 0.

The RLC took revenge some ten minutes later when the REME from a scrum in their 22 knocked on and the RLC picked up and run at the REME defence and crossed over to score their first try.17 – 5.

Around the 60 min mark the REME were delivered a blow that took their scrum half to the side lines through injury. The every reliable Rosie Haigh stepped in to this vacant role to which the RLC took full opportunity and applied the pressure and after 10 mins the REME defence was breached again. 17 – 10.

Nerves were starting to show and the coaching staff had to react to the problem of scrum half position. After some readjustment things settled and two more try by the REME forwards were score both starting from inside their own half. The first to score was the skipper who picked and went from a scrum for a 60 meter dash. 22 – 10. The next to score her first Corp try was Kayliegh Brading who like the skipper collected the ball from the back of a ruck in her own half broke through 4 defenders to score 27 – 10. The final whistle sounded and relief was felt by all. Palestine cup now retained. First of many pieces of silverware in this new start. A lot to work on but overall a well and hard worked performance, keep up the good work ladies it is coming together and congratulations on the WIN.

Posted: 2 Nov 10

RA (5) v REME (36)
Aldershot – 6 Oct 10

The start of the season was upon us with the first game for the Women’s team being up against the Royal Artillery on the evening of the 6 Oct 10 in Aldershot.

After training on Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon with the new coaching team and a new group of players the Corps was ready to take on the challenge.

Immediately from the kick off the REMEs applied pressure with the forwards and backs working closely together to attack the Artilleries line. Within 5 minutes from the start LCpl Cass Roberts crashed over the line with some stimulating lines of running to settle the nerves with a first try to the team and the start of our season.

Initially shocking the Artillery, they rallied to structure an aggressive attack that had them camped within the REMEs 22 for over 12 minutes until a solid defence saw the ball spill out to the hands of LCpl Cass Roberts to run a 70 meter dash to score giving REMEs a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

After a shocked Artillery receiving a second blow they rallied to deliver some fine attacking moves, they regained there structure to play some great rugby in the second quarter and rightly score a try in the right corner of the pitch by a blistering run down the wing. However the leader of the pack and team Cpl Rosie Haigh put her head down and lead the charge to run throws the Artilleries defence to score between the posts before the half time whistle to put the REMEs ahead at the break 15 – 5.

The second half saw the REMEs lead from the front after the kick off with ties flowing in from a focused team by Cfn Rosie Randfield, LCpl Sophie Reed and LCpl Rachel Davies all being converted by Cfn Kempy Kemp showing off her natural football technique in the process. We will never know what was said at half time but the new coaching staff of SSgts Colin Moore and Steve Smith must have worked as it was a pleasure to see the team working together and enjoying the rugby.

The final score was 36 – 5 to the REMEs but more importantly it was a great start to the season for the team which included new players, coaches and management. However, it must be said for both teams that it was great to see new players to the Corps and more importantly both teams enjoyed the occasion. If you are free on the 20 Oct 10 at 1300 hrs in Aldershot, please do come along and support your team against the RLC.

Posted: 2 Nov 10