Lichfield Ladies v DMP Sharks

Review

In round 6 of the RFU Women’s Premiership games Lichfield Ladies continued their good form at home to Darlington Mowden Park Sharks and produced a solid victory despite the awkward windy conditions.

Lichfield started strongly and quickly took control, dominating at both the scrum and lineout. After a period of intense pressure on the DMP Sharks line, Lichfield took the lead after a great line breaking run from Amy Cokayne, who ran through unopposed after 14 minutes to score between the posts. Emily Scarratt added the conversion to give Lichfield a 7-0 lead.

Lichfield the continued to pile the pressure on DMP Sharks and only failed to score because of a number of handling errors. Lichfield’s second try after 21 minutes was a superb solo effort from their World Cup star Mo Hunt – she picked up the ball inside her own half and after beating a number of DMP players kicked ahead perfectly, beating two covering defenders to the ball to touch down and make the score 12-0 to the home side.

DMP Sharks started better in the second half, with England captain Katy McLean gaining territory with some excellent kicking. DMP got their first points on 45 minutes, through a McLean penalty.

Lichfield then enjoyed an excellent spell of possession. Their next try came after 52 minutes, courtesy of a quick pass from Emily Scarratt to full back Sarah Nicholas, who broke through, drew the defence and put the electric winger Jasmine Coyne through to race clear and score under the posts. Emily Scarratt added the conversion to make it 19 – 3 to Lichfield. Two minutes later, another break from the outstanding Emily Braund put Amy Cokayne in for her second try leaving the score at 24-3.

DMP Sharks then put continual pressure on Lichfield, going close on several occasions without scoring. They eventually managed to break the Lichfield line on 62 minutes when following quick passing they scored a try through left wing Jen Lloyd Edwards.

Lichfield’s solid defence then saw out the match, with Emily Scarratt unlucky not to score a final try in the last minute, after a superb run she was adjudged to have put a foot in touch, making the final score 24-8 to Lichfield

Commenting on the win, Lichfield’s Head Coach Rich Bennett said “This was a solid performance and a good win for us today against a physical DMP side. We know there is room for improvement; we need to be more clinical in converting scoring opportunities; we could and should have scored more today. But the tries we did score were excellent and were reward for the huge amount of work the girls put in throughout the game”

Lichfield’s Mo Hunt and Emily Braund were awarded back and forward of the match respectively, by the DMP Sharks team.