Women's Match Report 17th March

Charlie Byrne

Sutton Coldfield Women 29 - Fiveways Old Edwardans 15

Sutton Women completed their league programme unbeaten for the second successive season with a hard-fought 29-15 win over a competitive Five Ways side who came into the game on the back of four straight wins.

In blustery, showery conditions the home side led 22-5 at the break, the homesides first try came from Katie Gregory who broke through centre field to score under the posts. Sutton's Forwards lead by Tara Wheeldon and Jessica Nally who returned to action this weekend continued to maintain possession, making effective gains in territory on which the basis was built for Sutton's next attack. Fly half Maria Crowfoot managed to ship the ball out wide allowing Alison Livermore to link up with winger Julia Gray who scored her first try of the season.

Kerrie- Anne Melsom earnt her self 'back of the match' award through her incredible attacking play which saw the winger add a brace of tries before the break with Alison Livermore adding an excellent touchline conversion. Ruusu Halttunen had earlier finished off an excellent passage of play to get the visitors on the board with a try in the corner.

Sutton stretched their lead two minutes into the 2nd half to 29-5 thanks to a moment of brilliance by leading scorer Alison Livermore who chased her own chip over the top before winning the race to the touchdown for her 7th try of the season before knocking over the conversion.

Despite the best efforts of ‘Forward of The Match’ Tara Wheeldon, and crunching tackles by Roisn McBrien, that was as good as it was going to get for the hosts and it was left to the visitors to complete the scoring for the day thanks to Finnish flyer Halttunen with her 2nd of the afternoon and Joy Potter forcing her way over with the last play of the game.

A huge achievement to go two complete league campaigns unbeaten, winning every game; the players now have three weeks and six training sessions to prepare for their promotion play-off on 7th April.