Eagles Women Soar To Victory

09/05/2022

Sheffield Eagles 60

Nottingham Outlaws 18

Mosborough Miners Welfare, Sunday 8th May, 1pm

The first home game of the year saw the Women's team facing Nottingham Outlaws in a friendly at Mosborough Miners Welfare.  Nottingham were an unknown side, but with representatives from GB Teachers and Loughborough University, the game was set to be a good challenge for the Eagles.

Nottingham won the toss and elected to kick-off. After some swift line breaks from the forwards, a quick succession of passes out wide saw winger Tori Thomas snatch the ball and dodge the remaining defenders to score the Eagles’ first try of the game. Unfortunately, the wide angle proved too difficult to convert.

Just two minutes later, half back Sarah Palmer took control of the game, drawing a defender and creating a gap for Claire Fisher to break through the Nottingham defence, handing off their full back and adding to the Eagles’ lead just right of the sticks. Danielle Green added the extras.

The return kick saw the first pressure on the Eagles defence, with Nottingham working well into the Eagles own 30. On this occasion, they were denied by the impressive work rate of captain Pete Lendon with a one-on-one steal, breaking the line and putting Eagles back on the front foot. 

The forwards continued this momentum into Nottingham’s half. An offload from Charlotte Johnstone to Capucine Auger resulted in her first try of the game. Green converted again to give the Eagles a convincing lead.

The Eagles kept up the intensity as half back Hannah Crowe perfectly timed an inside ball for Lendon to break the line and add their name to the score sheet. Green converted under the sticks.

A knock-on from the Eagles’ defensive line saw the Outlaws in a convincing position, and despite the Eagles’ lead, captain Violet Coppin composed their team leading to their first try of the game by Danni Solly which was successfully converted by Grace Tolmie. 

Not to be deterred, the Eagles again fought their way towards the try line, and another perfectly timed pass from Crowe allowed Johnstone to break through and score on the right wing after handing off multiple defenders. The angle proved too wide to add the extras. 

Just before halftime, the Eagles again made it into Nottingham’s half where dummy half Isobel Stevens made a quick pass to Auger, who scored her second try of the game which Green converted to make the half-time score 32-6.

A dream start to the second half saw the Eagles kick-off and following an unfortunate knock-on from Nottingham, centre Green scored off the scrum and was unfortunate not to convert her own try. 

After a series of knock-ons and uncompleted sets from both sides, both teams appeared to still be on their half time breaks. The Eagles then refocused with a strong carry from Beth Arnold, which created space for the backs and the halves shipped it right for full-back Ellie Tiffin to score her first try for the Eagles.

Tolmie’s strong kick off resulted in an Eagles knock-on, giving the Outlaws a scrum on the 20, which their dummy-half was quick to ship out wide for Solly to score their second try of the game. Tolmie successfully added the extras. 

Not to lose focus, the Eagles responded with a team try, finished by Auger and converted by Green. The Eagles continued their campaign and after passes out wide, Auger was able to score her fourth try which she grounded after a run under the sticks - setting up Green for another conversion. Yet another try for the Eagles was scored by Green, who set herself up to convert successfully.

Credit to the Outlaws’ perseverance and fitness, the final try of the game was scored by Solly yet again, with a conversion from Tolmie giving them a 100% success rate at the kicking tee. 

Captain and loose forward, Pete Lendon, commented: “Our performance against Nottingham Outlaws saw a great improvement on our first outing of the season,” 

“We really put everything from training into practice. 

“We are coming together really well as a team and the communication and intensity today was next level. 

“There were a few lapses in concentration that I’m sure we will be keen to smooth out for our next league game against Swinton, which looks to be the team to beat after being undefeated so far this season.”

Sheffield Eagles

Beth Arnold, Capucine Auger, Charlotte Johnstone, Chloe Askew, Chris Scullion, Claire Fisher, Clara Reynolds, Danie Green, Ellie Tiffin, Hannah Crowe, Helen Teas, Isobel Stevens, Jenny Crofts, Jessica Sayles, Kennedy Nuttall, Molly Haglington, Nell Coclough, Pete Lendon, Sarah Palmer, Simone Saunders, Tori Thomas

Tries: Tori Thomas (1), Claire Fisher (4), Capucine Auger (12, 37, 56, 62), Pete Lendon (17), Charlotte Johnstone (26), Danielle (40, 73), Ellie Tiffin (49)

Goals: Danielle Green 7/11

Nottingham Outlaws

Ryan, Moore, De Beer, Mann, Lord, Tolmie, Coppin, Allcock, Crowther, Urquhart, Harvey, Solly, Langton, Moore, McCormack, Turner

Tries: Danni Solly (22, 53, 76)

Goals: Grace Tolmie 3/3

By Chris Scullion