Harlow Ladies 10 Portsmouth Ladies 39

RFUW South East Div 2

Despite having a number of players missing and playing for much of the game with only 14 and at one time 13 while players received treatment Harlow Ladies can take some pride in this result. Harlow were in contention for three quarters of the game and the scoreline flatters the visitors. Particularly pleasing is the performance of a number of new players in the squad who are making very rapid progress.

After ten minutes of cut and thrust play midfield Portsmouth finally managed to put their wing clear for the first try. Harlow responded with total commitment, a nice cutting break by full back Handscomb past 4 players, quick ruck followed by quick hands moved it out wide to Hunter, stopped just short. A quick tap penalty by King, also stopped just short. With a positive start by Harlow, exerting lots of pressure, it was only a matter of time before they scored and it came from simple hands from the scrum out to winger Stimpson who raced around her opposite number to score making the score 5 – 5.

A quick try from Portsmouth from restart, followed by successful conversion took the score to 5 – 12 The Harlow response this time came from the forwards working through several phases retaining ball well before the maul was driven over line for Terry to score making it 10 – 12. Just after the restart Harlow came close when Bray was stopped just short of line but a quick counter attack by Portsmouth leads to try, making it 10 – 17  at half-time.

Portsmouth scored soon after the re-start making it 10 – 22. For much of the third quarter there was good tackling around fringes by Harlow but lacking the final pass in attack; they were retrieving static ball and not making much ground. One nice break by Stimpson produced a pass to Hunter and then back inside to Stimpson followed by an offload to Diprose, who was taken into touch at half-way. In the final Quarter the fatigue of having to defend so much took its toll and Portsmouth ran in three more tries making it 10 – 30 at the close.

Team: Samantha Acraman, Emily Gizzi, Clare Schneider, Natasha Nicholson, Maria Terry, Frankie Barnes, Chloe Van Dop (Capt), Michelle Stannard, Nichola King, Keighley Diprose, Sophie Bray, Kelly Cotterill, Sarah Stimpson, Rosa Handscomb, Kym Hunter

Tries: Sarah Stimpson , Maria Terry

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