**SUTTON COLDFIELD RFC LADIES MATCH REPORT - 5th JANUARY 2020***

On Sunday the unbeaten, highflying Sutton Coldfield Ladies 1st XV returned to league action after a five week break with a Warwickshire derby trip to Old Leamingtonians and came away with an emphatic 68-0 win scoring 12 tries and 4 conversions in the process, this on the back of a 66-0 win in home fixture earlier in the season.
Open side flanker Roisin McBrien got the ball rolling for the league leaders after just 3 minutes when she broke free to register her 11th try of the season and this was added to on 9 minutes when inside centre Katie Gregory forced her way over.
Despite being in total control, Sutton had to wait till the 24th minute to add the next score when outside centre Jo Hart marked her first start in the 1st XV by going under the posts which fly half Maria Crowfoot converted for a 17-0 lead.
From the restart Sutton quickly found their way back down into the Old Leam’s 22 allowing captain and scrum half Charlie Byrne the opportunity to squeeze over for her 4th try of the season.
There was no let up for the overrun hosts as playmaker Crowfoot ghosted over after 33 minutes before flying wing Jada Bailey finished off a great move moments later involving the midfield pairing of Gregory and Hart with Crowfoot converting both to extend the lead to 36-0 with the try bonus point safely secured.
That’s the way the score remained at the break thanks to some resolute defence by the visitors with Old Leam’s camped on their line for the last five minutes of the half.
Playing up the slope and into a headwind Sutton had to withstand some early pressure from the hosts before the fleet-footed Jo Hart broke free after 44 minutes before putting Jada Bailey in the wing’s 2nd try of the afternoon and 12th of the campaign to date.
The hardworking Sutton pack continued to be in the ascendancy providing the platform for the exciting back-line to demonstrate their attacking prowess and after 57 minutes the ‘Hart and Bailey’ show was at it again with this time Bailey putting Hart in for her 2nd try quickly added to on 60 minutes when Hart put Katie Gregory in for her 2nd try of the day and 6th of the season extending the lead to 51-0.
The classy Crowfoot dummied her way over for a second time after 65 minutes with her 2nd try and 4th of the campaign to date before the outstanding Jo Hart had the final word with the final two scores after 71 and 79 minutes to mark a remarkable full debut with four tries of the highest quality; Crowfoot brought proceedings to a close converting the last try to leave the final score as 68-0.
Pleasing all-round team display by the Sutton girls who came through one or two challenging spells by a determined Old Leam’s side who only last season were playing at level 3 in Championship 2. Congratulations to Emma Harris who made her full 1st XV debut in the 2nd row and to inexperienced hooker Charley Hope who marked her 1st XV debut with the ‘forward of the match’ accolade.
Lots to work on in training this week in preparation for the visit of Gloucestershire side Drybrook to Walmley Road next week but with just 2 tries conceded all season and 68 scored in 7 games the signs are encouraging for the remainder of the season particularly with a number of front-line players set to return.

Photo - Fly half Maria Crowfoot dummying her way to the line in the first half

Gerry Shanahan
Team Manager
Sutton Coldfield RFC Women