On paper the Quins were strong favourites but that didn’t seem to matter to the Western Swansea side who started strongly and had the better of the early exchanges.
The seemingly larger and very physical Waunarlwydd pack applied pressure on the Quins’ 5 yard line in search of the first score of the game. The Quins’ defence, however, looked alert and managed to hold out until a collapsed maul earned Waunarlwydd a penalty which was duly converted by No.8 Carole-Ann Burt.
Again Waunarlwydd made their way towards the Quins’ line pressing for the first touchdown of the match, only to be penalised for handling in the ruck. The penalty was taken quickly by the Quins, looking to run the ball from inside their 22.
The slick passing and running was a sign of things to come as the Quins rapidly made their way into the opposition half. If it hadn’t been for the last pass being slightly forward then Caryl James looked certain to score. The resulting scrum was pressured heavily by the determined Quins forwards who made it difficult for the Waunarlwydd half backs to clear the ball to safety. The loose ball being picked up by Quins’ fullback Hayley Baxter from inside her half who went on an amazing run, beating several players for pace and making her way in no time at all to the try line. Jilly Holroyd added the conversion.
The Quins seemed to react to this and now stepped up the pace dramatically, with slick handling moves coming off and interchanging passes gaining them yardage. This was illustrated in a try right out of the training manual, started by good line-out ball off the top from Quins’ lock Laura Richards. The ball was moved impressively down the line to Amber Penrith who cut inside her opposite number then evaded another several tacklers to run in for the second try of the game.
The Quins continued to keep the pace flowing and began to run in tries from almost everywhere with every try becoming something of a spectacle. Hayley Baxter added another 3 awesome tries to her earlier score with the most impressive try being run in from 80 yards out. Not to be outdone, Penrith duly crossed for a further 2 superb scores to collect her hat-trick.
However, the score of the half was by a forward. After Rachel Taylor collected the ball from a line-out on half way, the Quins going through several phases before the ball was slipped to Quins’ prop Thomas whose barnstorming sprint from the halfway line resulted in a well applauded try.
This was well deserved from the young prop who had been having a great game in the tight, along with fellow forwards Rachel Taylor and Becky Newton. Waunarlwydd’s strength was certainly up front and often it was one of the aforementioned Quins’ players with the first tackle or the first to the rucks or mauls, setting a good example for their team mates. Cardiff Quins took a seemingly unassailable 56-3 advatange into the interval.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Waunarlwydd gaining the upper hand in possession and territory. In fact the Waunarlwydd scrum at times put the Quins pack under a lot of pressure and earned themselves a few well deserved turnovers.
Waunarlwydd still looked determined and must have credit for the way they edged closer to the Quins try line. Phase after phase of Waunarlwydd pressure and the Quins defence still held out. With Rachel Taylor skilfully snuffing out several moves with her determined tackling and contesting at the tackle area.
However, the referee had to warn the Quins’ defenders for various infringements at the ruck and the Waunarlwydd pressure started to earn them penalty after penalty. Unfortunately for the visiting side the positive kicks to touch overshot the touchline on 2 occasions and the Quins’ defence could breath again.
The ball did again make its way very soon into the Quins’ 22 – a kick ahead being collected by the quick and elusive Hayley Baxter who again made a great score under the posts, passing several defenders on the way. The Quins managed to start earning some possession again and two further tries followed for their speedy winger Caryl James and a further score from lock Becky Blakeway.
Waunarlwydd again didn’t want to throw the towel in and again made their way into the Quins’ half, going through several phases, with openside flanker Aimee Kelly leading the way. The Quins’ defence coped well with the constant Waunarlwydd pressure but the referee harshly decided to sin-bin Rachel Taylor for infringing, for which she could be forgiven for feeling hard done by.
This seemed to ignite the Waunarlwydd pack who kept the pressure on and scored a well executed try from a catch and drive line-out; hooker Alison Thomas crashed over the try line in the corner.
The game at this point had been well and truly won and a further Quins try followed from Penrith, again scoring from within her half. An impressive first attempt at retaining the Welsh Cup for the Harlequins ladies against a team who showed great spirit and never gave up and deserve credit for that.
Cardiff Harlequins
Hayley Baxter (Capt); Caryl James, Amber Penrith, Zoe Eaton, Zoe Prytherch; Sophie Bennett, Jilly Holroyd; Becky Newton, Jodie Hewitson, Caryl Thomas, Becky Blakeway, Laura Richards, Sarah Wordsworth, Hayley Abson, Rachel Taylor
Replacement:
Nat Morrell (for Jodie Hewitson)
Scorers
Tries: Hayley Baxter (5), Amber Penrith (4), Caryl James (2), Caryl Thomas, Becky Blakeway
Cons: Jilly Holroyd (13)
Referee – Daniel Jones
