Ladies 1st XV
From here you can see: Fixtures | Stats
The 1st team play in the RFUW Premiership battling it out against the top teams in the country.
For the up to date league table visit: RFUW League Table
See below for all our fixtures and results.
| Played: | 14 |
| Won: | 3 |
| Drawn: | 7 |
| Lost: | 4 |
| Points for: | 148 |
| Points against: | 81 |
1st and 2nd team players played 20 minutes games in their first run out of the season
Sunday saw the first game in Lichfield Ladies 1st XV campaign for Premiership supremacy after the success of many of the Lichfield players away in the Nations Cup for England over the summer. Bristol travelled up to face a squad fairly un-changed from much of last season, but did see 2 new debut performances from openside flanker Kelly Douglas and 2nd row Lucy Kirk. The home team sponsored by Tempest Ford, started the game with pace and determination and didn’t take long to get the first score on the board with constant pressure in the Bristol half leading to a penalty from centre Emily Scarratt. The scores then came thick and fast due to ferocious tackling and strength in the breakdown in the forwards and pace, support and superb handling in the backs. At half-time, the score was 30 – 3 with Lichfield looking far the fitter side.
The 2nd half was a different story and after 1 break by Lichfield hooker Ollie Poore leading to a try under the posts by new player Kelly Douglas, the play was all in Lichfield’s half with constant pressure being applied by the away side. Lichfield managed to soak up the pressure and responded with a final try by fullback Vicky Jackson. Tries were scored by flanker Kelly Douglas (1), centre Emily Scarratt (2 tries, 2 penalties and 4 conversions), fullback Vicky Jackson (1), scrum-half Ali Taft (1) and a welcome try for the return of ex-Lichfield player Vicky Mazzarella back from Saracens. As a result of this score, Lichfield are now top of the Premiership!! Their next game will be at Wasps on 4th October with their next home game at Cooke Fields on 11th October as part of a celebration of women’s rugby to raise awareness of the Women’s World Cup taking place in England in August 2010.
Lichfield Ladies 1XV sponsored by Tempest Ford, travelled to the home of London Wasps on Sunday with high hopes of building on the winning start to their Premiership season the achieved against Bristol. With a later than planned kick off it was soon apparent that the home team had other plans and started with far more vigour. Lichfield, after being entrenched on their own try line solidly for the first 15 minutes, found themselves on the receiving end of two well executed tries and a conversion, shortly after then had the added misfortune of loosing their captain, Ollie Poore, to injury.
This enforced change brought some focus back to the Cooke Field’s team and the pack started to win some useful ball and Lichfield could establish some play in the opposition’s half. Opportunist line breaks by new lock, Lucy Kirk, prop Roz Crawley and centre Vicky McCormack fell just short and coupled with some well executed mauling, Lichfield showed they were up for the competition.
At half time the game remained 12-0 and some enforced changes through injury left Lichfield less organised than normal – this did however not restrict the quality of possession that the pack, now firmly on top established. With Lichfield focussing on attack, Wasps took the opportunity to test the Myrtle Greens defence and came away with a well taken try in the corner. At this point Lichfield took the game by the scruff of the neck, Kate Knight’s move to centre firmed up the midfield and Lichfield hit back with a sweeping move resulting in a try for Becky William in the corner. Immediately after the restart, a Lois Moulding break resulted in a clearance kick that Williams took a quick throw to Knight who punched up the middle of the park producing quick ball for Sophie Nicholas to round her opposite number and score in the corner. A conversion from Danni Knight brought the score to 17-12 with ten minutes remaining.
The last ten minutes were a frantic affair with some fantastic defence from Wasps keeping the now confident Lichfield out on numerous occasions – Lichfield did learn the lesson again from the Wasps team to pay attention to defence as Wasps put the game safe with a penalty from former England fly half Shelley Ray – the game ending 20-12 much to the away teams disappointment.
Lichfield second team travelled to Cambridge with a mix of young and new. A close game was expected; the half time score of 7-5 bearing evidence and Lichfield had to wait until the second half for the experience of Laura Bradley and Ami Philips, and the vigour of debutant Fi Fletcher to break the home teams resolve. A final score, well earnt by all 15 Lichfield players, of 43-7, should ensure Lichfield is the form setters in this league.
Lichfield 1XV next game will be at the Cooke Field’s ground at 3pm on Sunday the 11th October, the opposition is Team Northumbria. As a curtain raiser, Burfield’s (a combination of Burton and Lichfield) u18’s will be taking on Aylstone St James at 1.30pm. This occasion is a celebration of the upcoming Women’s World Cup to be hosted in London 2010, many players on show will be featured in the 1XV game. All are welcome to what will hopefully be a fantastic day of rugby.
Curtain Rasier 1.30pm Burfield v Jimmies
It was a weekend of mixed emotion for the Ladies Section at Lichfield RFC, the sad passing of club stalwart Jimmy Greenhorn, a major force behind the sections establishment, and the celebration of rugby that saw action from the u15’s, u18’s and Senior 1XV teams, and the welcoming of new sponsors Trinity Ford to the Cooke Fields for the first time.
The day started with superbly hard fought wins for the u15’s against Paviors and the scalp of Jimmy’s Angels for the u18’s. Both wins baring testimony to the talent in the junior section of the club and hard work of players and coaches.
These victories set the scene for a hugely physical battle for the 1st XV against fellow Premiership opposition Team Northumbria. After a week of upheaval with injuries and various incarnations of flu, it was a slightly off colour squad for the home team that ran out and with both teams boasting several internationals, the scene was set for a gritty determined game.
Starting aggressively, Lichfield shook off any flu symptoms and established themselves in the oppositions 22 for much of the first half. After several promising attacks, pressure finally paid off with a nicely taken try by Vicky McCormack whose speed onto a well weighted pass from winger Sophie Nicholas, saw her round the aggressive Team Northumbria’s defence. England’s Emily Scarratt kicked a successful conversion.
Team Northumbria then showed their mettle and after several phases of aggressive attack, produced a well worked overlap and try for their strong running number 8, though the conversion into the wind fell short.
Lichfield, mindful of their opposition’s potency, then re-established themselves in the opposition half and the pressure they exerted resulted in successive yellow cards for the opposition prop then hooker. A huge effort in defence for Team Northumbria meant that Lichfield only capitalised on this advantage of numbers with a solitary Scarratt penalty – the score at the interval remained at 10 – 5 to the home team.
The second half was again remarkable for the strong running of the Team Northumbria pack, and the physical battle for the ball by the home team. Well weighted kicks from Lichfield’s fly half Danni Knight and inside centre Kate Knight saw Lichfield dominate territory and thwart the relentless attacks by Team Northumbria’s who were forced to play deep in their own territory. Lichfield capitalised on this with a somewhat dubious try for Lichfield’s Lois Moulding, though her second a few minutes later was less debatable and a brace for the stand in scrum half reflected the can do attitude of her teammates.
It took until well into the second half for the Lichfield pack to get on top of their opposition and produce a stream of quick ball onto which strong running backrowers Claire Antcliffe, Harriet Mills and captain Sarah Hunter forced thunderous tackles from the opposition.
Team Northumbria, even after the concession of these points fought to the 80th minute and were forced at the end of the match to concede a try for Lichfield’s super sub, Becky Williams. A bonus point win of 27 – 5 for Lichfield from such relentless opposition bodes well for the rest of the season and reflects the hard work the players are producing at their Tuesday and Thursday night’s training.
In blustery conditions, Lichfield – sponsored by Tempest Ford - took to the field suffering injuries but with a focus and determination to give it their all. After their defeat to Worcester the previous week, Lichfield needed a solid performance to lift their spirits. Saracens started playing with the wind and took full advantage of this by kicking in to the corners and making the home side play within their 22 for the major part of the first half. Strong and big in both the line-out and scrum, Saracens pushed Lichfield back but he home team defended valiantly and it took the away side 20 minutes to force over their first try from a line-out. The 2nd Saracens try came from a strong scrum which Lichfield held up on the first 2 occasions but succumbed to the pressure on the 3rd attempt.
The 2nd half saw Lichfield pressure Saracens from the off and penetrating their 22. However, gusty conditions put pay to the line-out attempts and Saracens stole the ball. Quick turnover resulted in a well-worked try around the outside of the Lichfield backs to see England full-back Charlotte Barras go in at the corner for their third unconverted try. A great debut effort on the Lichfield wing for Liz Poulson ensured that Barras only scored the 1 try. The rest of the game was spent well within the Saracens half but Lichfield just could not break the away team’s defence and failed to put any points on the board.
The 2nd half saw Lichfield pressure Saracens from the off and penetrating their 22. However, gusty conditions put pay to the line-out attempts and Saracens stole the ball. Quick turnover resulted in a well-worked try around the outside of the Lichfield backs to see England full-back Charlotte Barras go in at the corner for their third unconverted try. A great debut effort on the Lichfield wing for Liz Poulson ensured that Barras only scored the 1 try. The rest of the game was spent well within the Saracens half but Lichfield just could not break the away team’s defence and failed to put any points on the board.
Next week sees Lichfield Ladies 1st XV away to Richmond and then several Lichfield players involved in England A and England fixtures against New Zealand. For further details of all these International fixtures, please go to www.rfu.com