Match Report | Sheffield Eagles Women's Red 40-20 Salford Red Devils
21/05/2024
By Barry Wood | Photos by Hannah Pemberton
Sheffield Eagles Women Red secured a fourth successive league win on Sunday afternoon with a 40-20 victory over Salford Red Devils at Mosborough Miners Welfare Club.
Early advantage went to the Eagles with a scrum in the Salford half, only to be lost immediately in the play from the back of the scrum. A set from Salford followed with a long kick to the Eagles right edge, which took a wicked bounce over the head of the defender who was deemed to have knocked on in the recovery of the ball. Salford then proceeded to lay siege to the Eagles line. After a wayward pass was deemed as an Eagles bat-down, the scrum granted Salford another set which they did not waste. The ball was moved right. A tackle was made close to the line, but the Eagles defenders over-read the play, and the Salford dummy half Corcoran sneaked over from the play-the-ball in the 7th minute. Simpson’s conversion unsuccessful for 0-4 to the visitors.
An exchange of sets eventuated into a scrum for the Eagles 20m from the Salford line thanks to an attempted ball steal that went forward. A couple of forays down the right side brought the Eagles close. On the third play Parker found loose forward Brennan in close support who promptly burst and weaved a way through the defence to crash over just to the right of the posts in the 13th minute. Converted by Thomas for 6-4.
However, from the restart, the Eagles kick reception demon struck again with the ball knocked-on 15m out from their own line. From the scrum Salford moved things close to the try line on the Eagles left edge, but strong goal line defence forced a knock-on of a pass. From the scrum the Eagles advanced well into the Salford half forcing a knock-on and a 7-tackle set in their favour from the last tackle kick, which the Eagles did not waste. After being held up over the line and two injury stoppages interrupting play, resumption saw the ball shifted out to the right, and centre Evans forced a way over in the 21st minute 5m from the flag. Converted by Brennan with a bounce off the far post and the crossbar for a 12-4 lead.
The restart produced another wicked bounce granting possession to Salford, but they failed to take advantage knocking-on early in their set. A good Eagles set sent Salford back down to their own try line, only for the Eagles to be penalised three times in succession for tackle contact above the armpit, which brought Salford to 25m from the Eagles try line. Four plays later and the Salford second rower Myler stepped back inside the rush defence to crash over in the 29th minute 10m from the right flag. Simpson converted for 12-10.
From the restart Salford advanced up field into the Eagles half only to knock-on on the fifth play, the ball quickly snapped up by Parker. Three plays took the Eagles across halfway to the 60m mark. The next play brought a deceiving inside drop-off from Palmer, which opened a path for Auger to race 40m through the back of the ruck and onwards to the try line to score 5m to the right of the posts in the 33rd minute. Thomas converted for an 18-10 lead.
The two sides traded sets from the kick-off, but then the Eagles had a couple of scares, one from an interception quickly snuffed out, and another from an errant pass that was rapidly recovered by the passer and returned to the original gain line. Two plays later the Eagles were 5m into the Salford half. The next play found Parker who as ever attracted multiple defenders, this time sufficiently enough to put loose forward Brennan through a hole. A 35m run found Exley supporting on the right to finish the move with a try in the 40th minute 10m in from the corner flag, conversion unsuccessful for a half time lead of 22-10.
Half-time: Sheffield Eagles Women Red 22-10 Salford Red Devils Women
For the first seven minutes of the second half, the two sides traded sets without seriously threatening each other’s line, that is until the Eagles retrieved the ball from a forced error 30m from the Salford try line. Initially the Eagles concentrated attacks on the left which dragged much of the Salford defence to that side. On play four the ball was shipped right coast to coast for Evans to put Clarke in at the corner in the 48th minute, just beating the cover defence. Conversion missed – score 26-10.
However, the Eagles elation was promptly shattered after knocking-on the restart 2m from their own line. Salford executed a switch play against the grain on the third, loose forward Morris touching down under the posts in the 52nd minute for an easy conversion by Evans to narrow the score to 26-16.
Yet then it was Salford’s turn to fluff fielding the restart, the ball taking a wicked bounce to one side and going dead-in-goal. From the goal line drop out the Eagles advanced on the first tackle to 30m out from the Salford line, but the attack was defended out and ended with a last tackle kick going dead, a tap 20 to Salford.
With play remaining in the Salford half, the two sides traded errors, but eventually a last tackle kick from Salford didn’t make it out of their own half and the Eagles capitalised after retrieving the kick close to the right touchline. The next three plays were kept to the right side, and then a superbly executed play brought a try in the left corner. Firstly, Wood then Palmer shifted the ball left into the hands of Swann, who straightened up and attracted the attention of the defender on her left. That was enough to make a hole for fullback Judd who came from behind to burst through a tackle, drawing in the Salford winger. A perfect pass found Exley on the left who in turn offloaded under pressure into the arms of Thomas to cross close to the flag in the 62nd minute. If there had been admission money to this game, that try alone would have been worth it, even though the difficult conversion was missed - score 30-16.
This time the kick restart returns at least made its way into the Salford half before an unforced error gave them the ball back. From the scrum Salford went deep into the Eagles half, then manufactured another set of six when the last tackle was played at. It rebounded straight back into Salford hands out on their right edge, compounded even further by a six-again call. A short side play on the third found too few defenders and Salford prop Bagguley was over for a try in the 68th minute 10m to the right of the posts, closing the score gap back to 30-20, the conversion being missed.
Salford fielded the kick restart close to their own try line and advanced to within 20m of the Eagles line, but they were unable to take advantage of a bouncing last tackle kick. A handover to the Eagles centre-field. On the second play 35m out from the Eagles try line, the ball was put into the hands of Brennan, who went on a devastating weaving run, throwing off several defenders and eventually finding a hole on halfway through which she accelerated to outpace the defence and score in the 73rd minute 5m in from the left corner flag. Conversion falling short – score 34-20.
The Eagles promptly returned the kick restart into the Salford half, Parker putting in a left-to-right cross-field kick at 30m out. The ball dropped to the ground between Salford’s left centre and winger, only for Brennan to intercede, snatching the bouncing ball out of the air and powering the short distance with defenders hanging off to plant the ball down in the 77th minute halfway between the posts and the right touchline. Swann converted - score 40-20.
The two sides traded sets, Salford’s almost realising a try from a dangerous break down their left wing, only for Wood to make a last gasp shirt grab in pursuit that brought the break to a halt. A knock-on 2 plays later saw the final whistle.
Full-time: Sheffield Eagles Women 40-20 Salford Red Devils Women
Eagles Tries: Brennan (3), Evans, Auger, Exley, Clarke, Thomas
Goals: Thomas (2/3), Brennan (1/4), Swann (1/1)
Salford Tries: Corcoran, Myler, Morris, Bagguley
Goals: Simpson (1/3), Evans (1/1)
In conclusion, a competitive match against a strong and well organised opponent. Some robust tackling and good go forward from both sides. The Eagles now have the confidence to move the ball swiftly from coast to coast and it is paying off with the scoring of some quality tries.
It’s a four week break now until after the Challenge Cup finals. An opportunity to raise fitness standards still higher and work on those areas of weakness.
The captain’s player of the match award went to Izzy Brennan, and the coaches’ award to Simone Saunders.
