Lichfield Ladies v Aylesford Bulls Ladies

Review

Yesterday saw Aylesford Bulls taken on Lichfield at home, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The stage was set Aylesford narrowly won their game last week and Lichfield drew, both teams had everything to play for. Lichfield built the pressure early and where quickly rewarded with a line break try from number 7 Amy Cokayne, three minutes into the game, the conversion was then scored by Sarah Nicholas, 7-0. Lichfield gained possession of the ball again, but Aylesford seemed determined to fight back dominating the scrum and coming extremely close to scoring off of 5 meter scrums from the Lichfield try line. Lichfield on the other hand showed very strong defense and Aylesford were unable to capitalise on their pressure.

Lichfield regained the ball, sustained pressure taking the ball down to Aylesford’s end of the pitch and after some lovely interchanging off loads from the centers and winger, Eve Morton went over the try line, with Sarah Nicholas successfully taking the conversion, 14-0 22 minutes into the game. 6 minutes later and Lichfield were backing in the Aylesford Bulls 22, after receiving a penalty in front of the post Lichfield decided to further their lead by having Sarah Nicholas kick for post, the successful kick moved Lichfield 3 point further into the lead, 17-0.

Aylesford Bulls showed guts and determination and both teams put together some lovely rugby, but at 35 minutes a runaway try lead to Jasmine Coyne sprinting across the white line for her first try of the game, having shown her impressive pace, leaving the score after a successful conversion from Sarah Nicholas, 24-0. The pressure was once again was all Lichfield’s, 1 minute before half time Lichfield took a lineout 10 meters from the Aylesford line and sent Amy Cokayne over for a try after a well worked lineout and a lovely offload from Emily Braund, a unsuccessful conversion left the score at half time 29-0.

Both teams returned to the pitch for the second half with steal and determination, especially Aylesford, who only the weak before had come back from losing only to win the game. The first team to score was Lichfield, once again sending the unstoppable Amy Cokayne over the line within the first 5 minutes of the whistle being blown; a successful conversion from Sarah Nicholas left the score 36-0. More great pressure by Lichfield led to Jasmine Coyne running over the white line to score her second try, an unsuccessful conversion left the score 41-0 with 50 minutes on the clock. 5 minutes later and Lichfield were back in possession and sending Sarah Nicholas across the white line for her first try in the corner. Unfortunately she was unable to convert her own score, 46-0.

The tail end of the second half saw Lichfield with all the possession and Aylesford looked unable to stop them. Lichfield capitalised on all of their pressure in the last 20 minutes of the game with Amy Cokayne going over for her 4 and final try at 62 minutes by scoring in the corner after some lovely holding of the Aylesford defense by her team mates, an unsuccessful conversion left the score 51-0. At 70 minutes Sarah Nicholas scored the final try, her second of the game, which she was then able to convert. Leaving the score at full time Lichfield 58- Aylesford Bulls 0.