Chelmsford Ladies 10 v 12 Harlow Ladies

National Challenge South East Div 1 North

HARLOW achieved an important win in a hard closely fought game at Chelmsford on Sunday.

They received the ball first, going down the slope with the wind behind them. The combination of wind, rain and a significant slope on the pitch made it important to establish an advantage in the first half. Ten minutes into the game Harlow skipper Sarah Stimpson playing at fly half scored first, after quick hands she ran around the outside to score out wide. I difficult conditions she missed the conversion. Ten minutes later outside centre Emma O’Donnell broke through several defenders to run over half the length of the pitch to score under the post, Stimpson converted. And Harlow held on to a 12 – 0 lead until half time.

In the second half Harlow battled going uphill into the rain and wind. At the interval Chelmsford had made several changes from their large squad. For much of the game Harlow were forced to defend inside their 22 and did not help their campaign by giving away many penalties. Chelmsford were able to run in two unconverted tries. The first from the backs – quick hands out to the wing to score in the corner. Then the other from a forward who broke through some tackles with a strong run to score in the corner, also in the corner and out of kicking range.. 

Eventually Harlow’s Jen Tennant was yellow-carded for offside in the red zone, with 15 minutes left of the match; forcing Harlow to defend with 14 players for the next 10 minutes while the contest continued, very evenly matched. After Harlow had returned to 15 players a well-kicked ball put Harlow under pressure resulting in a five-meter scrum to Chelmsford. After several phases they drove over the line but Harlow full back Nichola Shrambrook held the ball up as the whistle was blown to end the game!

Tries: Emma O’Donnell (1) Sarah Stimpson (1)
Conversions: Sarah Stimpson (1)

Team: 1 Alison Boggas, 2 Kerry Snell, 3 Emily Wooller, 4 Sonia Rochester, 5 Tracey Lee, 6 Gemma Wood, 7 Sarah McCarthy, 8 Leah Dixon, 9 Charlotte Smith, 10 Sarah Stimpson (Captain), 11 Jen Tennent, 12 Louise Steel, 13 Emma O’Donnell, 14 Anne-Marie Rand, 15 Nichola Shrambrook, 16 Lorna Hunter, 17 Carla Marshall, 18 Lynn Bryant

This result puts Harlow Ladies into fourth place in their League: they will host second place Romford Ravens on this Sunday 24th November, kick off 2pm.

Junior Girls Rugby

Harlow junior girls played in their cluster side with neighboring Hertfordshire clubs.
The U15s Girls went to Teddington RFC to play in a joint friendly against Grasshoppers RFC.
Teddington lost 37-19. Harlow player Katie Boggas scored two conversions and club colleague Ellis Lennon scored one try.

The U18s Girls played in the Herts Baa Baas side in League game against Welwyn.  They lost 48-7.  Jamie Marshall and Daisey Thomson played: Jamie scored the only Herts Baa Baas try.