Dewsbury Moor edge past Eagles Women at OLP

05/06/2023

Sheffield Eagles Women welcomed Dewsbury Moor Ladies to the OLP for the first time in what was expected to be a tough encounter, and which didn’t disappoint.

After an early handling error from each side, the game settled into a set for set pattern with the Eagles penning Dewsbury in their own half. After almost crossing on the right, the next play shifted the ball quickly left to find space for Fisher to score in the 5th minute midway out on the left, converted by Parker for a 6-0 start.

From the restart the Eagles moved swiftly up field and camped themselves in the Dewsbury half. Sustained drives up the middle took the Eagles within 10m of the posts. A long shift out left nearly made it over, but a quick play the ball enabled acting half back Wood to demonstrate one of her trademark plays and dive over for a try 5m in from touch in the 11th minute, conversion unsuccessful.

From a deep kick at the restart the Eagles progressed the ball up to half way only for an injury in the 5th tackle that forced stand-off Parker off the field for the rest of the game and a rearrangement of player positions which at first proved advantageous.

A couple of sets on, and the Eagles found themselves on halfway at tackle two of a seven tackle set off a 20m restart. A shift right off the ruck found Wood now at stand-off, who with lightning pace burst through the Dewsbury Moor edge defence, dished out another trademark left arm fend to a full back and raced away to cross 5m in from the right flag in the 16th minute. Conversion unsuccessful.

And then the tide turned. A poorly fielded restart invited Dewsbury Moor to attack from a scrum inside the Eagles 20m. On the fourth play Dewsbury’s no.10 powered over by the right hand post in the 19th minute, easily converted for 14-6.

Directly from the restart Dewsbury went on the offensive and their quick and powerful no.10 burst through a weakened Eagles middle to reach the Eagles 40m on the fourth play.

Smart play by Dewsbury with offloads and passes down their left edge caught out a thinned Eagles defence and their no.11 crossed for a try 5m in from touch in the 21st minute. Conversion missed, score 14-10.

Straight from the restart the Dewsbury middles went to work on the Eagles and on the fourth play their no.13 burst through thin defence centre field, racing 50m to score under the posts. Conversion duly made, score 14-16.

From the restart the Eagles showed more resolve defensively, but scrappy play by both sides eventually handed the ball to the Eagles with a scrum on the Dewsbury 30m. One of Tiffin’s crazy mazy runs brought play to within 10m of the Dewsbury posts and an injury stoppage.

Two plays later Auger barged through from 5m out to score to the right of the posts in the 30th minute. Converted by England for 20-16.

Again the Eagles showed defensive resolve from the restart, gaining back possession at a scrum on their 40m.

Good hands on the right and an evasive run by winger Roberts brought play to within 10m of the Dewsbury try line on the fourth.

A cross field kick out left on the last stood up for the chasing Judd but pressure from the Dewsbury Moor winger was enough to force feet over the dead ball line before the ball could be grounded for a try leading to a seven tackle set to Dewsbury.

Dewsbury went hard from the 20m restart nearly reaching the Eagles 30m in six plays. The last tackle kick went out towards the Eagles left corner but a series of misjudgements of a bouncing ball gifted possession straight into the hands of the Dewsbury scrum half who raced over to score near the posts. The conversion rounded off the first half for 20-22.

Half-time: Sheffield Eagles Women 20 – 22 Dewsbury Moor Ladies

Team talks at half time had their effect on both sides with the next 40 minutes proving a much harder battle. However, Eagles handling errors kept preventing them from progressing beyond the Dewsbury 40m inviting pressure back in return.

A breakthrough down the middle from half way by the Dewsbury acting half back almost resulted in a try, but for a sustained chase and last ditch ankle tap by Tiffin that forced the falling attacker to knock-on just short of the try line.

From the scrum the Eagles moved the ball back up to half way only again to squander possession with a fumble at the play the ball. Dewsbury wasted no time in driving the Eagles back on to their try line. A quick play the ball and the no. 6 at acting half back twisted her way over to score in the 54th minute, converted for 20-28.

From the restart a seemingly disheartened Eagles conceded ground all the way back to their 10m line, but this time they managed to return serve and almost score with a last tackle kick out to the right which a speedy Roberts couldn’t quite reach in time.

After some scrappy play by both sides the Eagles at last managed to make a break down their right edge and get a six tackle repeat thanks to a penalty for a high tackle. Having moved the ball left to just short of the line, this time the chance wasn’t missed with Wood at acting half back yet again diving over by the left post in the 66th minute, converted by England for 26-28.

From the restart the Eagles mounted more pressure but were unable to capitalise a metre out from the Dewsbury try line. A subsequent high tackle gifted Dewsbury another set of six, of which they took advantage.

Firstly came a quickly play into space behind the ruck ultimately stopped by full back Tiffin and centre Thomas moving Dewsbury 20m up to the Eagles 40m line.

Then followed a retreating defence not organised in the middle, a straggled line slow to advance and a quick 2 pass play to Dewsbury’s big powerful and very quick no.10, who wasted no time in running an evasive line through the straggle to motor on to score under the posts. Another easy conversion for the away side’s no.4 for 26-34.

Still six minutes to go though and time to fight back. However after regaining possession at a scrum in their own half, it was immediately surrendered with another handling error forcing the Eagles to carry out some sustained red zone and try line defence which ate up the precious clock.

On eventually regaining possession a desperation pass out of the tackle by Wood on the right edge found the boot of the supporting centre Thomas. The ball bounced kindly into the hands of winger Judd who raced away from half way to score under the posts, converted for 32-34 and the end of the game.

Full-time: Sheffield Eagles Women 32 – 34 Dewsbury Moor Ladies

Tries:- Fisher, Wood (3), Auger, Judd Goals: Parker (1 conversion), England (3 conversions)

Undoubtedly the middle defence was weakened by factors such as the absence of big hitters Green, Martinus, Saunders and Johnstone, the early injury to Parker, the later one to prop Sayles, and that prop Auger was returning after a mid-week illness. However unforced handling errors along with some naïve ruck defence against an experienced and well drilled side probably contributed more to the loss.

On the other hand there was plenty of encouraging evidence that incremental improvements are taking place week on week. It’s four wins from eight now and not quite halfway through the fixture list. As the saying goes, it’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish it.

Player of the match went to the Eagles 9 Agnes Wood with three tries and yet another non-stop fearless effort in attack and defence. Coming up a close second in this writer’s eyes would have to be equally non-stop and fearless captain and scrum half Sarah Palmer with another consistent all-round performance across the park.