UWIC Women defend crown

UWIC Ladies 27 – 5 Loughborough Ladies

The Cardiff-based students showcased their superiority from the first whistle with a dominant display that saw them run in five tries to Loughborough’s last-gasp sole touchdown.

The victory means UWIC Ladies have now drawn level with old rivals Loughborough in lifting the trophy four times with Cup Final victories in 2002, 2003, 2006 and now 2007. Loughborough’s last cup final win came in 2005.

UWIC dominated from the start, applying heavy pressure on Loughborough early on. After four minutes UWIC were rewarded with an early penalty, which fullback Aimee Young missed. It did not matter though as just 13 minutes later their skipper was leading the way.

No.8 Helen Amos handed her side a 5-0 lead after 13 minutes and it was a deserved score following a period of 11 minutes camped in Loughborough’s 22. The score came from a well-worked line-out catch and drive that then saw Amos pick up from the back of the scrum and drive over.

Amos followed up her earlier effort with a 27th minute touchdown. Again a nicely executed line-out catch and drive from the five metre line saw the UWIC pack muscle their way to the line and Amos ploughed over. This time Young added the conversion handing UWIC a 12-0 lead.

Their score went some way to rousing Loughborough into action and instead of defending constantly in their own 22 Loughborough started to turn the tables on UWIC. To their cost, though, they couldn’t convert pressure into points and instead it was once again UWIC who made the most of their chances.

This time their third try came courtesy of wing Shelley Barr who intercepted a pass to charge 40 metres up-field and score, handing UWIC a 17-0 lead at the break.

The one way traffic continued after the restart with Barr starting off where she had finished at half-time with a 46th minute try. UWIC’s blindside flanker Carys John then had the final say for UWIC with their fifth try, pouncing on a loose ball after some more pressure on Loughborough’s line.

Loughborough, meanwhile, saved their blushes with an 80th minute touchdown courtesy of centre Phillipa Whittingham after UWIC went a player down. Vice captain and fullback Young was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle and Loughborough made the most of their one man advantage taking a penalty in UWIC’s 22 and spreading the ball out to the left wing where Whittingham jinked her way through to touch down, making the final score 27-5.

Scorers:
Loughborough University: Try: Whittingham
UWIC: Tries: Amos (2), Barr (2) John. Conversions: Young

Loughborough University:
1. Katie Smith
2. Rebecca Hearn
3. Laura Eddie
4. Leanne Ashworth
5. Vicky Blair
6. Imogen Porter
7. Hannah Clark
8. Olivia Poore (Capt)
9. Lois Moulding
10. Charlene Barter
11. Sophie Nicholas
12. Gemma Hempstead
13. Phillipa Whittingham
14. Joanne Kirkby
15. Adrienne McAlpine

Replacements:
16. Laura Odgen
17. Hannah Clark
18. Hannah Balson
19. Carrie Smith
20. Helen Stephenson
21. Catherine Gibbons
22. Olivia Thorogood

UWIC:
1. Sally Hinds
2. Sara Davies
3. Hanna Roberts
4. Stephanie George
5. Rebecca Picton
6. Carys John
7. Rhian Bowden
8. Helen Amos (Capt)
9. Amy Day
10. Rachel Poolman
11. Shelley Barr
12. Christie Thompson
13. Meg Youdon
14. Lydia Alesbrook-Bowen
15. Aimee Young

Replacements:
16. Daisey Scott
17. Clair Lodge
18. Fiona McIntyre
19. Sarvenaz Razavi
20. Sammy Knighton
21. Alice Edmonds
22. Alison Milton

Match report provided courtesy of RFU