Fighting performance from ladies

West Norfolk Warriors 1st 14, Mellish Ladies 22

The ladies welcomed Mellish Ladies for the first home fixture of the season, setting up a mid-season clash for valuable league points. Both sides fielded a full team, with the game competitive from the off.

Mellish’s heavier forward pack immediately challenged West at the breakdown with forceful counter-rucking that put West under pressure. As a result, West didn’t sufficiently control the pace for the first quarter, so Mellish exploited that slight advantage and ran in a handful of tries through a solid combination of ball carrying through the centre channel, to then pop that ball out to the speed merchants on the wing to score.

Half-time saw Mellish start with a comfortable lead, but West had gathered their focus and came out with a determined and controlled mindset, which was immediately apparent with the experienced West scrum half and Back of the Match, Amber Wadlow, slowing the pace of the game to enable West to dominate Mellish, culminating in her own superb try out on the wing which was then slotted over with an outstanding kick from Zoe Sharp.

With the bit now firmly between their teeth, West put Mellish under constant pressure, with some fantastic breaks from Forward of the Match Cora Hunter, who powered through Mellish’s defence to gain valuable ground, supported by a newly energised pack of backs who took the ball to the wings in a series of breaks.

New starter Kayleigh Ross made her debut for West and immediately showed why she was fielded, putting in hard tackles and great catches. West’s forward pack were formidable, making tackle after tackle and showcasing a brilliant offloading game that ended up with fly half Sarah Hodge breaking free and grounding a superb try under the posts, converted by Tiffany Turner.

After a yellow card for Mellish and with the ferocity of the game increasing, West unfortunately ran out of time on the clock and were unable to fully execute what was a textbook game plan for the second half, having not let a single point go against them in that phase of play.

West take to the road again on December 3, headed to Kesteven.

Forward of the Match – Cora Hunter; Back of the Match – Amber Wadlow