Lichfield Ladies vs DMP Sharks

Review

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Lichfield Report

In round 6 of the 2016/17 Women’s Premiership games, Lichfield entertained DMP Sharks at Cooke Fields. With Lichfield looking to maintain their excellent start to the season and DMP Sharks fielding two World Cup winners in Katy McLean and Tamara Taylor and looking for improvements, this was always going to be a testing encounter.

In a game played at a very high pace throughout, Lichfield scored first after a quickly taken short lineout enabled hooker Amy Cokayne to crash over in the corner and on 17 minutes Rachel Squires broke free on the right wing to add a second. Two Katy McLean penalties kept DMP within reach and as they found more possession, DMP No.8 Zoe Aldcroft broke two tackles to touch down and give them the lead 11-10.

That really stung Lichfield into action, creating much more domination of both the scrum and the lineout with Harriet Millar Mills adding the third try after 33 minutes, after Lichfield again drove the DMP scrum backwards towards their own line. From the kick off on 35 minutes, Lichfield outside centre Carys Williams beat five DMP players to sprint 60 metres and touch down for the fourth. Four minutes later Lichfield winger Rachel Squires again broke free to touch down in the corner, giving Lichfield a 25-11 half time lead.

In the second half Lichfield continued to dominate possession. On 45 minutes outstanding scrum half Mo Hunt burst through beating four defenders to go 50 metres and touch down under the posts, Amy Cokayne added the conversion. With the outstanding Lichfield pack dominating the scrums it was only four minutes before they added another try, when Harriet Millar Mills touched down following a pushover scrum. Four minutes later they scored again through Scottish international Jenny Maxwell who picked up an offload after an outstanding break by flanker Abi Walker. DMP Sharks rang the changes and were awarded a fine consolation try on 75 minutes when former Lichfield player Emma Harbage muscled her way over the line to bring the final score to 42-16 to Lichfield

Lichfield head coach Richard Bennett said ‘thanks to the Wooden Spoon Rugby Charity for sponsoring the match and being involved in all of the training sessions for the younger players.

This was a tough match against a team with some really outstanding players, DMP fought all the way through and it was never comfortable for us. I was particularly pleased with our positive attitude, it was a terrific response from the whole squad after last week’s disappointment at Bristol. We were really focused, played some lovely rugby at times and kept our shape well. We created plenty of scoring opportunities and took them well.

As always, there is still lots to improve and work on and we look forward to going to Sixways Stadium to play Worcester next week in what should be another great local derby.”

LICHFIELD SCORERS

Tries :- Amy Cokayne (7 mins), Rachel Squires (17, 39 mins), Harriet Millar Mills (33, 49 mins), Carys Williams (35 mins), Mo Hunt (45 mins), Jenny Maxwell (53 mins)

Conversion :- Amy Cokayne

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DMP Sharks Preview

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