A second half fightback from Leicester Tigers denied the Army Senior Women a victory in their final warm-up match before the 2023 Inter Service Championship.
This was a proverbial game of two halves at Leicester Forest RFC, utilising that club’s artificial surface as another important preparation for the upcoming clash with the Royal Air Force at Kingsholm.
The first 40 minutes belonged to the red shirts, who played almost the perfect half of rugby, showing patience and plenty of skill with ball in hand, and utilising the wind in an intelligent kicking game.
Maj Chantelle Miller (AGC (RMP)) opened the scoring, crashing over after Bdr Bethan Dainton’s (RA) quick thinking saw the Welsh international tap a free kick close to the line to catch the Tigers unaware.
Some superb approach play had put the Army into the position from which they would eventually score, and they showed more of the same in the build-up to the second try, also finished by Maj Miller.
SSgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)), who led from the front throughout, was involved twice, a powerful run putting the red shirts onto the front foot and the scoring pass putting Maj Miller over. Gnr Jess McAuley (RA) hit a great line to put the Tigers onto the back foot and forwards and backs alike were looking to keep the ball out of contact to maintain possession and fluency.
The positive approach came within a pass of a third try, before Bdr Dainton capped off the superb half in its dying embers. Pte Courtney Pursglove (RLC) started things off with a sniping break, but it was an offload for the ages from Sgt Louise Dodd (QARANC) which put Bdr Dainton away and had the Army bench on its feet.
Leading 15-0 at the break the Army may have been, but they were up against a Tigers outfit who had clinched the Championship 1 North title the previous weekend with an unbeaten campaign, and in the second half Leicester showed their championship calibre with 35 minutes of power, pace, accuracy and precision.
The Army began the half positively, Bdr Dainton making a barnstorming break. But after that it was all one-way traffic as Tigers piled on the pressure.
Fly half Amy Relf was first to cross, followed by prop Rebecca Church. Then Tigers completed their comeback when the impressive number eight Charlotte Fray not just crossed the whitewash but also had the presence of mind to round her way to the uprights, making Relf’s conversion more straightforward and putting the hosts in front 17-15.
Fray also struck the killer blow in similar fashion shortly before the final whistle, capping an excellent personal performance.
Now trailing 24-15 and having to adjust to a number of positional changes in the backline, the Army nevertheless finished the contest strongly.
Sgt Dodd put Gnr Amy Carr (RA) through a gap, before tracking the centre’s break to be on hand to finish off the move.
There was still some time to snatch a last-gasp win, but the Tigers were able to hold the red shirts at bay, 24-20 the final score.
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Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Header and Featured Images – Alligin Photography © Lee Crabb
