Eagles Women claim double league points against Lionesses

07/08/2023

Sheffield Eagles Women travelled to Heywood Rd, Sale to take on Swinton Lionesses for a first and only meeting this season, but also to claim the double league points on offer due to fixture congestion issues.

The first half started with Swinton delivering an early shock from a scrum 20m in from touch on their left and 10m out from their own try line. A pass from the back of the scrum was delivered to their 9 at first receiver, who with outstanding pace crossed 30m to the right to round the Eagles defence then race a further 80m up field to score under the posts in the 3rd minute for the opening try of the game, subsequently converted for an early 6-0 lead. Consternation in the Eagles coaching ranks and a wake-up call!

And woken up the Eagles players were for the rest of the game. Straight from the restart the Eagles defence forced a Swinton error to gain a scrum 40m out from the Swinton try line. Three drives and up to the Swinton 10m where dummy half Wood carried on from the last game weaving a run to cross in the 7th minute for a first try 15m to the right of the posts, unconverted for a 6-4 score.

From the restart the Eagles progressed 75m up their right side with multiple drives and the help of a penalty for a ball steal. A spread left frittered away an easy try on the wing for the want of a final pass instead of taking the tackle 2m out. Fortunately a second drive moved things on a metre nearer. Irresistible territory for the ever opportunistic dummy half Wood to sell a convincing story of a pass to the right, only to step left and plunge over in the 12th minute 10m in from the left corner flag. Again unconverted for a score of 6-8.

From the restart half back Parker collected the ball on the Eagles 20m, put in a punishing drive discarding multiple defenders, progressing 47m up field. Further pressure on the left should have resulted in another try on the wing but instead elicited a penalty 10m out for Swinton being offside. Up steps Wood again to weave a route from the tap to cross in the 15th minute dead centre under the posts, this time converted for 6-14.

The next few minutes saw the sides trading blows with the Eagles pushed back into stoutly defending their own line. Eventually the Eagles made their way back to the half way on their right. A pass from Wood at the play the ball went right to second rower Arnold who in turn drew the edge defenders making a return pass to Wood on the inside. Wood then swerved out into the space to streak down the right edge and eventually touch down for a fourth try in the 26th minute 10m to the right of the posts, again converted for 6-20.

From the restart the Eagles made their way deep into the Swinton half. With the help of a penalty for offside, play was shifted way out left then back to the right to a tackle 1m out. And there was Wood, of course, selling that fake pass story again to dive over in the 30th minute 5m to the right of the posts, converted to bring the score to 6-26.

More to come though. Firstly Green collected the restart kick on the 20m and burst 30m up the left edge to half way. 3 more drives and now within 10m of the Swinton line. This time Lendon stepped up to the plate with a second carry in the set, twisting over in the 33rd minute 5m to the right of the posts. Converted for 6-32.

The half closed out with the Eagles deep in the Swinton half, but handling errors from both sides prevented any further score.

Half-time: Swinton Lionesses 6 Sheffield Eagles Women 32

The second half began a little scrappily with both sides trading possession from errors, but eventually the Eagles made their way up the left edge with a break to camp in the Swinton 10m zone. A miscued pass in centre field seemed to have ruined the attack, sending the ball back to the 20m line behind the Eagles attack. Not so! Parker retrieved the ball, spotted that Swinton had no defence out to the right, then executed a perfect grubber kick into the right corner which was duly pounced on by winger Anderton in the 45th minute 1m in from the flag for a first try of the season. A difficult and unsuccessful conversion. Score 6-36.

A fluky bounce from the restart kick enabled Swinton to claim possession for a while, doubling up with a repeat set after an Eagles mix up fielding a kick into their in-goal area. However the Eagles defence repelled the attacks and play progressed back up field into the Swinton 20m zone. A beautifully timed pass from substitute prop Colclough found Green backing up on a perfect angle on the inside to cross and touch down behind the posts in the 53rd minute. And convert it for 6-42.

Yet again the restart saw the Eagles advance rapidly up field with speed of play, movement of ball and offloads eliciting refereeing decisions against the Swinton defence. And the pressure told. A move from the centre consisting of a drive, an offload and swift passes put the ball into Anderton’s hands to cross under pressure in the right corner for a second try on the day and the season. Conversion unsuccessful. Score 6-46.

Repeat the formula? Absolutely! However it didn’t quite work to the right this time, but on shifting it left the hands of Palmer found Green coming back on the grain to cross 10m left of the posts, only to be deemed held up. Another go to the right didn’t work with the ball eventually ending up in Swinton’s possession just in front of their own line, but quickly relinquished with a knock-on at the play the ball on their 10m line. From the scrum the Eagles exerted continuous pressure on the right half of the pitch which had the effect of compressing the Swinton defence onto that side. A long shift left made its way into the hands of Palmer who in turn found Green cutting back to charge over 5m to the left of the posts in the 67th minute, converting for 6-52.

Thirty minutes into the second half and no sign so far of Wood on the scoreboard you might wonder. Wonder no more. Two strong drives from England and Lendon put the Eagles 35m out and 20m in from the right touch line, defence still in full retreat trying to get onside. Perfect for Wood. A swerve to the right around the ruck, a burst of acceleration through a gap, then sublime footwork to go past the full back and Wood was rapidly away under the posts in the 73rd minute accumulating another six try haul. Converted for 6-58.

Another foray took the Eagles deep into the Swinton half but this time without score. However the Eagles defence prevented Swinton from progressing out of their own half. More drives and ball movement found Green again back on the grain crossing in the 78th minute 10m to the left of the posts for a personal tally of 3 tries for the final score of the game, the conversion being unsuccessful. Score 6-62.

Full-time: Swinton Lionesses 6 Sheffield Eagles Women 62

Tries:- Wood (6), Green (3), Anderton (2), Lendon Goals: Green (7 conversions)

The coaches’ player award went to Katie England for her destructive defence and carries, and the captain’s vote to Lisa Parker.