Biggleswade RUFC

Biggleswade Ladies 26 - 17 Harpenden Ladies

Biggleswade Ladies suspected Sunday’s home league match against Harpenden was going to be a battle. Injury and illness meant the Biggy side lacked forward replacements, and the whole team knew they were going to have to put a hard shift in. 

Getting points in early was key, and despite a strong start from the visitors, Biggleswade notched up the first score just three minutes in. Scrum half Vicki Marshall sent an accurate, long pass out to captain and fly half Charlie Field, who slotted a perfectly weighted kick over the Harpenden defensive line. Biggy full back Amanda Humphrey timed her chase to collect the ball in the air at full speed and run in under the posts to score the first try of the match.

Pressure from Harpenden forced Biggleswade to defend, with Biggy making tackle after tackle to keep their line strong. Nat Rundle in her first start for the club got stuck into the ruck from the off. Flanker Sophie ‘Exocet’ Earls was making supporters ‘oof’ in sympathy with every hit. 

When the home side didn’t press up quick enough, allowing Harpenden to work it wide, Amanda made vital tackles to snuff out several Harpenden attacks. Biggy’s wingers Chloe White and Carly Wilson were also proving relentless in defence chasing and covering the wings, bundling attackers into touch.

Despite Biggy’s valiant efforts, the sustained pressure from Harpenden finally won them some reward. Forward phase after forward phase close to Biggy’s try line eventually saw them break through Biggy’s defensive wall, and score an unconverted try to equal the score.

Charlie’s restart gained Biggleswade ground, with the captain chasing and tackling the Harpenden player who collected her kick.

The ball got stuck in the middle of the pitch with both teams finding it hard to get quick ball out wide. A high penalty count mainly for breakdown infringements meant there was a frustrating stop start nature to the game, with both sides failing to capitalise when advantage was played and play being pulled back to site of the original offence.

Prop Naomi Fullerton was finding her confidence and leg-drive in the carry, with the forwards piling in behind her to tractor her 15 metres down the pitch.

Again Harpenden responded and piled on the pressure, and Biggy had to defend on their line for what seemed like an age before Charlie kicked her team to safety.

Biggleswade began to work the ball out wider and centre Lauren Poole - who had so far been forced to concentrate on her fearsome defensive tackling skills - stretched her legs with a superb breakaway sprint from the half way line. She looked a shoe-in to score, but Harpenden’s full back brought her down just short of the line. A great support run from teammate Chloe meant she was hot on her heels to secure the ball and the chasing Vicki was able to take it over and get Biggy’s second try just before the half hour mark. Charlie converted.

Biggleswade were upping the aggression in the ruck, and getting more possession. The scrum was looking solid and strong, and some of the forwards were getting into their stride, with lock Clare Watson steam-rollering her way forward with some great carries.

Biggleswade’s line press wasn’t consistently quick, but for periods it worked brilliantly, at one stage forcing the visitors back from Biggleswade’s 22m line back into their own half. Harpenden tried to kick their way back, but Amanda calmly caught the up and over ball and bombed forward, dodging and drawing defenders before releasing a well-timed pass out wide to Chloe, who sprinted half the length of the pitch to score Biggy’s third and most satisfying try - individual skills finishing off hard work from the whole team.

Biggy finished the half with some good pressure, but just before the half time whistle blew, Harpenden fought their way up the pitch, with their No 6 breaking through the gain line and  scoring their second try to bring the score to 19-12. 

Biggy, disappointed to have let Harpenden close the gap, began the second half strongly. Prop Connie McGinlay launched into opposing players with two belting tackles in a row, showing Biggy’s intent. Flanker Bev Horsefield moved to hooker and continued to put in some gutsy work in the breakdown.

It was busy winger Chloe who kicked off the scoring after eight minutes, with a fantastic run from near the centre of the pitch, racing round several defenders and sidestepping in without losing pace to score a great solo try (converted).

Harpenden, who were on the wrong end of a big scoreline in their last match, were putting in a huge effort, and pinned Biggleswade on their own try line for a five minute period where it seemed like a score was inevitable. Time after time, Biggleswade made crunching tackles to fend off their opposition.

Unfortunately one of the visitors went down with a knee injury which needed lengthy treatment leading to a 10 minute delay. When the game restarted, Harpenden were still encamped near Biggy’s line and despite Biggleswade working tirelessly to defend and clear their lines, the pressure finally told, and the visitors bustled over for the try (unconverted).

With the the light failing, and the score set at 26-17, the delay meant there was still 20 minutes left on the referee’s watch. Biggy were aware they couldn’t let their concentration drop.

Biggleswade passed the ball out wide to replacement winger Tash Cooper, who got the chance to show her pace before being tackled. 

Sophie once more stopped a Harpenden attacker in her tracks, with Amanda joining in to bundle the player into touch. 

Both teams continued to put in maximum effort, but neither could break through eachother’s defences again, and the scoreboard remained unchanged.

Forward of the Match: Clare Watson (sponsored by Bob Archer) for a power-packed performance with some immense drives.

Back of the Match: Charlie Field (sponsored by L.F. Jarvis & Son Ltd) for leading from the front with a canny kicking display and a tremendous tackle count.

(Authors note: I promised not to mention the terrible dropped ball and knock-on when Charlie showed how not to catch a restart kick, so I won’t).

PHOTOS BY DAVID KAY