BACK TO WINNING WAYS FOR RAFRU WOMEN- 15 Oct 08

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The RAF Rugby Union Women’s Section got their season off to a winning start with a comprehensive 29 – 0 victory over Nottingham Trent University (NTU) on Wednesday. The squad, which included 5 new players, had clearly benefited from a summer of disciplined, fitness training and were brimming with enthusiasm as they took to the park at the Clifton Campus. Clearly reinvigorated by his recent appointment to the staff of Wasps Ladies Team the RAFRU Women’s Head Coach, Sgt John Wilding (RAF Uxbridge), took innovative options and placed familiar faces in less familiar positions. Of note, Cpl Mandy Mitchell (MDHU Portsmouth) was moved from scrum-half to full-back; Cpl Julie Crole (RAF Halton) played half a match on both the wing and at scrum-half, whilst Flt Lt Helen Reade (MDHU Peterborough), having previously played for the RAF as a centre, made her pack-debut at number 8.

In what proved to be a tentative first quarter the RAF took the early initiative, exerting pressure on a clearly apprehensive NTU team. Domination told and, following a series of powerful drives from the forwards, Sgt Steph Carlyon (RAF Cranwell) crashed over the try-line in the right-hand corner to put the light blues ahead 5 – 0. NTU responded, raising their game with some strong running from their gifted fly-half. However, having failed to capitalize on a kickable penalty, they were soon on the receiving end of another RAF try, set-up by LAC Tasha Corns’ (RAF Northolt). Her kick-through from mid-field created a delightful pick-up and quick hands along the back line to allow Cpl Lynn Armstrong (RAF Halton) to score in the left-hand corner, extending the lead to 10 -0.

Further promising breaks, thwarted only by the sideline whitewash, highlighted the confidence of the backline and as the first half drew to a close the RAF breached the NTU try-line for a third time. Clean ball from a solid scrummage released fly-half Sgt Nickers Underwood (MDHU Portsmouth) on an elusive, cross-field run. A scything, angled run from Cpl Mitchell followed which, coupled with some beautiful off-loading in the contact area, enabled Cpl Crole to touch-down to leave the half-time score at 15-0.

The backs, truly revelling in the expansive opportunities, showed no hint of relenting in the second half. With less than 5 minutes on the clock Crole, now at scrum-half, showed outstanding physicality and personal skill as she shrugged-off 3 half-tackles and jinked her way through a 70 metre sprint to score squarely under the posts. The conversion brought the score to 22-0 and all thoughts of a come-back from NTU could surely be dismissed. Not so, as NTU re-grouped and commenced several sustained waves of assault inside the RAF 22 metre line. A teasing kick-through by NTU’s stand-off almost bore fruit, however a determined pick-up and drive from Corns, coupled with explosive runs from Sgt Nat Verner (RAFCAM) and Flt Lt Glenys Jones (RAF Northolt) eventually enabled the RAF to clear its lines unbreached.

A more evenly matched second half progressed without further score until the final minute of the game. A flurry of outstanding, 15-man rugby enabled the backs to capitalize on several phases of slick continuity from the forwards and, following flowing passing moves along the back-line, release SAC Laura Stewart (RAF Northolt) on the angle to carve-up the NTU defence and score under the posts. Underwood slotted her second conversion to make the final score 29 – 0.

Clearly content with the performance, coach Wilding now has some key selection issues on which to ponder before the Ladies in Light Blue take-on the experienced Trojans club in Portsmouth on 16 November and the squad can move onto the challenges of the rest of the season with a strong, confidence-boosting performance behind them.