21st Sep 2003 - Beccs ladies win first league match 0-43 away to Canterbury.
Beccs Ladies kicked off their Division 3 SE-E League campaign this Sunday with a terrific 7-try win over Canterbury. Having been promoted two leagues this season after winning Division 5 SE-E last year this was a step up which Beccs greeted with enthusiasm.
On a hard fast pitch they came out of the blocks fast and managed to camp in the Canterbury half for the first five minutes until some good fast hands worked the ball across the pitch where centre Wendy Stevens was quick to score the first try of the day which was converted by fly-half Captain Alex Tyson.
Beccehamians worked hard in the heat and a good solid performance by the forwards starved Canterbury of the ball which meant the backs were able to run around a little and it was Wendy Stevens who again had a jinxing run along the wing before cutting back in to score under the posts for the second try of the match.
Canterbury re-grouped and began to tighten their defence making things harder for Beccs but the ladies responded and worked hard to turn-over ball in the ruck to make things difficult for the opposition. Alex Tyson was next to score with a fast run through midfield with some of her vicious trademark handoffs to score at full-length by the posts before stepping up to convert her own try. The half was completed with a run from half-way by winger Alaina Allen who had been threatening all afternoon, to cross the line to score.
Beccehamians took on water over half-time as it was an extremely hot and dusty day – very unfriendly weather for rugby playing! Canterbury upped the pressure in the second half and put together some great passages of play. Beccehamians were lucky at one point to keep them out with some great tackles put in on their own line to save the score. This half was much tighter as both sides tired in the heat and much play occurred in midfield with Beccs having some success at turning possession through holding up the ball in the maul. Captain Al had some good solid runs again and was able to pop over in the corner for her second of the day.
With Canterbury fielding new front-row players the initial scrums had been uncontested but in the second half the ref decided both sides were okay to try contested. This suited Beccs well having ‘blooded’ our front-row a few weeks ago. The scrum worked well with hooker Michelle Pope taking a couple against the head. Carolyn Waugh also had a good game playing out of position at scrum-half and getting the ball out quickly to the backs from the scrum.
Centre Wendy Stevens completed the afternoon with two more extremely speedy tries running in from half-way and side-stepping the opposition. Alex Tyson also converted these two tries to finish off the afternoon as clear 43-0 winners.
Worth mentioning are the new players who were playing in their first ever league match, firstly hooker Michelle Pope who put in a good display with some good pick-ups and runs in mid-field as well as putting in some good lineout throws and scrummaging well. Alongside Michelle playing at prop was Becky Tyson, yet another of the famous Tyson sisters making her debut in the national league. Becky put in a good performance being solid in the scrum and gaining some great experience.
Also in the scrum was second row, Jacqui Fincham, another newcomer to rugby who performed as though she’d been playing for much longer. And out on the wing playing her very first match for Beccehamians was kiwi Colette Johnson who made some good runs and put all her summer training and learning to good use. Another new face in the team this year was founder member of Beccehamian ladies, Yvonne Baxter making a very welcome return to rugby and to the Beccs team.
Thanks go to Canterbury for a very enjoyable game and friendly welcome in the club-house and we look forward to playing them again at Sparrow’s Den later on in the season.
Beccs next league game is home to Sidcup on Sunday 19th October, kick-off 2.00pm. We may have a Cup match on Sunday 5th October but this is to be confirmed..
Beccehamian Team
Forwards:
Yvonne Baxter (prop), Michelle Pope (hooker), Rebecca Tyson (prop), Sam Howe (prop), Jacqui fincham (lock), Amanda Fenwick (lock), Sarah Henson (no.8)
Backs:
Carolyn Waugh (scrum-half), Alex Tyson (fly-half), Lara Fisher (centre), Wendy Stevens (centre), Colette Johnson (wing), Alaina Allen (wing)
Players of the Match
Forwards:
Michelle Pope
Backs:
Colette Johnson
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