Eagles Women triumph over Wigan St Pats
25/04/2022
Wigan St Patricks 18
Sheffield Eagles 36
Wigan St Patricks ARLFC, Sunday 24th April, 2pm
Agnes Wood wrote her name into the history books just nine minutes into Sheffield Eagles Women’s team’s first game in the RFL’s League One competition to become the team’s first ever try scorer, barging through from dummy-half to ground the ball just to the right of the sticks. Danielle Green added the extras as the Eagles got off to a dream start on debut.
In glorious weather at hosts Wigan St Patricks, the Eagles team slowly found their feet with many players new to Rugby League. The shape and skills of the players developed over the 80 minute period and it only took a further ten minutes before Green pinned her ears back and showed her pace to carve through the defence on the left edge, with Kate Fletcher backing up superbly. Green converted and was in again shortly after with another long range effort which she grounded beneath the posts to give herself a third easy shot on goal.
A tussle in the forwards followed, with St Pats showing their game knowledge around the ruck to catch the fledgling Eagles napping on a few technical points to get back into the arm wrestle. Elisha-Marie Foster moved the Black and Whites off the mark as the hosts created an overlap for the winger to dive in at the corner. The angle was too difficult for Sarah Harrison to improve the score as the half ended 4-18 the way of the visitors.
A dream start to the second half saw Wood in space again on the first set, jinking her way through the St Pats line which appeared to still be on its half time break. Green kicked a further conversion to add to her tally and shortly afterwards, the Eagles appeared to put the game beyond doubt as loose forward Pete Lendon had the footwork and pace to break the line to add their name to the scoresheet. Green converted once more.
St Pats rallied with a rapid reply from Sammy Traynor who burrowed through from dummy-half, with Harrison this time able to slot the conversion. Two more St Pats tries from Chloe Hammond and Ollie Forbes; the first a classic prop’s try where Hammond used her momentum to bust the line and the second a more flowing effort, narrowed the score. Harrison was unable to convert either as the Eagles remained comfortable.
The final word went to Capucine Auger, whose line break saw her scamper the final 20 metres unopposed to give Green a sixth shot on goal and the Eagles a welcome 18-36 victory on their first outing.
“The whole team have worked hard to prepare for this fixture and I am thrilled that the hard work has paid off and they’ve earned themselves a win,” said Head Coach Liam Browne.
“Our team is made up from players from all kinds of sporting backgrounds and it was a pleasure to see them gel and show their potential.
“Of course there is plenty to work on and we’ll be looking to do that over the coming weeks to keep improving ourselves and pushing forward.”
“But for now we’re not taking anything away from achieving a win in our first game!”
The Eagles Women take a break for the bank holiday and return to action on Sunday 8th May, away to Keighley Cougars.
Wigan St Patricks
Aimee Rice, Robyn Birchall, Ollie Forbes, Elizabeth Batchelor, Elisha-Marie Foster, Michelle Woodcock, Sarah Harrison, Lauren Gibbons, Sammy Traynor, Chloe Hammond, Milana Bretherton, Charlotte Butler, Chloe Myers. Interchanges: Patricia Gaskell, Jayne Robinson, Katie Sandison.
Tries: Elisha-Marie Foster (37), Sammy Traynor (48), Chloe Hammond (55), Ollie Forbes (64)
Goals: Sarah Harrison 1/4
Sheffield Eagles
Ellie Tiffin, Tori Thomas, Claire Fisher, Danille Green, Kate Fletcher, Chris Scullion, Sarah Palmer, Capucine Auger, Agnes Wood, Jessica Sayles, Charlotte Johnstone, Bethany Arnold, Pete Lendon. Interchanges: Jenny Crofts, Agigail Millen, Chloe Askew, Simone Saunders, Molly Haglington.
Tries: Agnes Wood (9, 42), Danielle Green (22, 28), Pete Lendon (46), Capucine Auger (77).
Goals: Danielle Green 6/6
