They say what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and that certainly appeared to be the case for Bethan Howell’s Seven Sisters side as they returned to Principality Stadium a year on from their heavy defeat in the WRU Women’s Cup Final to win the Plate Final 25-15.
Last year’s 85-14 defeat to Llandaff North at the home of Welsh rugby was a particularly painful lesson, but with all bar two of the same starting XV they made the pilgrimage to the Welsh capital once again for #RTP25 and triumphed over Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd (CRICC).
In a game dominated by the tearaway back row from Seven, in which Melissa Gnojek stood out to earn the Player of the Match award for her two tries, it was Howell’s side who raced into a 12-0 lead with a brace of tries from Gnojek in the space of five minutes.
Outside half Rachel Rees converted the second score before CRICC prop Nia Jones powered over to make it 12-5 at the break and keep the game in the melting pot.
Seven got off to a blistering start to the second half when No 8 Alicia Demery-Goatson drove over for their third try, but CRICC certainly weren’t ready to throw in the towel. Katie Heir grabbed a second try for them and that forced Seven to go for the posts when they received a penalty in the 63rd minute to make it a two score game at 20-10.
Former Wales international Howell then got on the scoresheet with a pick and go try from a couple of metres out to set the seal on victory for her side, although there was a try at the death for the gallant CRICC team when replacement Niah Orlandea went over in the last play of the game.
WOMEN’S PLATE FINAL
Seven Sisters: Cerys Bowden; Caitlin Moffatt, Holly Cooper, Jami Davies, Joy Hall; Rachel Rees, Hannah-Mâi Jones; Emma Powson, Kirsten Flower, Bethan Howell (captain), Jenny Adams, Seren O’Neill, Leah Griffiths, Melissa Gnojek, Alicia Demery-Goatson
Reps: Nia Williams, Heledd Lewis, Shae Wallis, Emily Preedy, Victoria Morgan, Jenna Dyckhoff, Jessica Thomas, Caris LlewelynCRICC: Mirain Jones; Lydia Marsh, Georigia Liddington, Rhi Gower, Molly Webster; Sophie Longland, Alaw Hughes; Meleri Daniel, Elin Davies, Nia Jones, Anwen Hopkins, Laura Satterly, Maddie Rees, Carys Parry, Georgia Cummings
Reps: Beth Jones, Katie Heir, Sarah Turner, Jude Dowers, Georgina Wren, Zoe Tudor, Niah Orlandea, Catrin JonesGO.COMPARE ‘STAR OF THE MATCH’ – MEL GNOJEK (SEVEN SISTERS)
