RAF Women Kick Off Their Season Against Loughborough University

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After a summer of recruitment and a big move around in the committee structure the women’s team came together this week to kick off their season against Loughborough University. The Summer Academy brought some brand new faces with a range of abilities to the squad. Regular players were away due to Combined Service commitments, deployments and injuries, therefore a large percentage of the training prior to the match was spent introducing the new players and getting some players used to playing out of position.

The new coaching team led by Sgt Don Rodd, motivated the squad well and got them focused on the task ahead and the way this season’s game was going to be played. Sgt Sally Thornton stepped up to the responsibility of Captain and the experienced Flt Lt Katie Sharman as Vice; an enthusiastic RAF women’s team took to the field at the Welbeck Defence College.

An early break through try from Loughborough was not enough to spoil the RAFs morale, if anything it spurred the team’s determination and as such spent the rest of the first half camped in Loughborough’s 22. AC Nikki O’Donnell made an excellent debut at Scrum half and was the first to break Loughborough’s line scoring a try after a quick penalty. It wasn’t long after her touchdown that some fantastic forwards play and hard working backs moves put her over the line for the second time. She successfully converted both. With No.8 Sgt Steph Carlyon being forced off the pitch with a shoulder injury, debutant LAC Alice Beatty was given an opportunity to run onto the pitch for her first ever game of rugby.

The scrum showed its power throughout the game despite the low level of experience within the pack. This game saw SAC Rachel Giannasi, our dependable young water girl from last season, now aged 18, taking up her preferred position in the front row. Also new to the pack, debutants, Cpl Jo Knell stepped into second row with ease and SAC Jo Reddaway showed her jumping skills in the line out.

The second half was a hard fought match with the fitness of the Loughborough team and the distinct lack of replacements on the RAF bench really starting to show its effect. The RAF held their defence well with AC Nikki O’Donnell putting over a penalty kick bringing the score to 17 – 20; but in the last 20 minutes fatigue was evident and the Loughborough backline exploited this with a number of great lines of running and strength in contact. However, the RAF girls heads did not drop and some powerful mauling and rucking in the last minutes of the game saw the RAF take the ball down the field from their 22 to put our brand new debutant LAC Alice Beatty, over the Loughborough line in the corner for her first ever try in her first ever game.

The game has given the coaching staff many areas to work on in the upcoming fixtures but in all it was a hard fought game with some great attacking play, hard rucks and strong mauls. The game resulted in a 22 – 50 victory to Loughborough University.

The nominated players of the match from the RAF side were the Captain, Sgt Sally Thornton, who led by example throughout the match, chasing down the Loughborough attack and showing pure determination in contact; and No.12, SAC Laura Stewart, who whilst she prefers stepping out in the number 7 shirt put on a great performance at centre with some powerful breakthrough running and strong defence.

Match Report by Sgt Steph Carlyon