East London Ladies 22 - 33 H&D Owls

Playing their first game in over a month the Owls faced the daunting task of travelling to West Ham to take on a team who had beaten the Harwich side at Low Road.

The visitors had the home side under pressure from the kick off and pinned them in their 22. The forwards kept the pressure on but it was scrum half Lucie Gibson who spotted a gap in the home defence at a ruck at sniped through from 15 metres out to score the first try within two minutes. Annalise Allan slotted over the conversion to increase the lead.

Harwich kept up the pressure with their backs’ running and handling a constant threat to East London. It was from one of these moves that created the space for centre Beth Blacklock to sprint through to score near the corner. With only eight minutes gone Harwich had a 12 point lead but the home forwards started to assert their superior power and size, testing the visitors’ defence. The Harwich forwards were turning over quite a lot of East London’s rucks and stealing their lineout ball but were unable to take proper advantage of the possession.

Another superb handling move by the backs saw Becki Hare sprint clear only to be called back for a questionable forward pass. The forwards kept up the pressure however keeping the home team on the back foot and following some good phases of play, Annalise Allan sneaked through the defence to score a try that she also converted. With only five minutes left of the first half the home side rallied and the power of their forwards finally told when they crashed over from close to the line with the last move of the half.

Leading 19 - 5 Harwich began the second half under pressure and again the London forwards demonstrated their strength by scoring from close range within the first two minutes. The visitors were now under constant pressure and struggling to keep the home side at bay. This resulted in number 8 Mimi Montgomery and shortly after that scrum half Gibson were both yellow carded for high tackles. East London took advantage of the spaces created to score another try to close the gap and when Allan was also yellow carded for the same offence the home side took the lead for the first time with a converted try.

With the first two sinners back on the field the Owls rallied and great teamwork put the them close to the line for Gibson to dive over for a try that Yas Amber converted. Allan rejoined the fray with only three minutes left. East London made a break down the wing but were tackled into touch touch outside the Owls’ 22. From the lineout, Sian Smith made a break before passing it to Allan. A well timed pass to Blacklock put her clear on the halfway line and she sprinted in for the final try with Allan converting. The final whistle blew giving Harwich a hard earned victory.

This great level of teamwork will have to be repeated and improved on this Sunday when the Owls face local rivals and in form Woodbridge Amazons who will be very keen to redress the result from earlier this season.