Sheffield Hallam WRU 1′s 45-0 Leeds Trinity 1′s
It will have been a frustrating few weeks for Hallam’s women’s rugby union side, having to watch and wait whilst the rest of Team Sheffield Hallam got their season’s underway. Today (29/10/2014) however, they made the most of their return to action as they ran riot against Leeds Trinity 1′s, winning 45-0.
Hallam were in control throughout and went into the half-time break 20-0 to the good. It took some time in the second half for them to refind their rhythm but once they did, they added five more unanswered tries.
Megan Dugdale led the way, scoring four whilst Beth Wilbe got two. The rest of the tries came through Georgia Davey, Hannah Johnson and Janelle Romanchuk.
The first two minutes of the game gave an idea of what was to come as Hallam opened the scoring. Megan Dugdale was found on the right wing and her pace was too much for the Trinity defence whose last-ditch tackle was skipped over by Dugdale before the Hallam player touched down over the line to give Hallam a 5-0 lead.
Hallam soon took control and most of the game was being played in front of the Trinity try line yet to Hallam’s frustration, Trinity seemed to be holding firm, restricting their hosts’ lead.
This wasn’t too last and soon Hallam had doubled their advantage. After a tackle saw the end of a Hallam phase a few yards out, Georgia Davey received the ball and charged over the line.
It was soon to be 15-0 as Dugdale grabbed her second. Hallam moved the ball well from left to right and when Dugdale received it, she worked her way through to finish off the move.
The final try of the half was a great solo try, one of the several Hallam scored. The ball was worked out of a scrum to Hannah Johnson and she sprinted down the left flank and over the line, leaving the Trinity defenders in her wake.
Hallam come close to another try.
The Leeds Trinity players didn’t seem to lose confidence and started the second half with a fair share of possession, though they weren’t testing the Hallam defence.
However, any hopes Leeds Trinity had of a miraculous comeback were soon killed off as Hallam made it 25-0. Trinity tried their best to prevent Hallam from getting the ball down again but Janelle Romanchuk was on hand to provide the clinical touch.
The next try came thanks to a terrific solo effort by Beth Wilbe which put her side 30-0 up against a Trinity side who were waning fast.
Later, the Trinity defence was exposed once again as Dugdale secured her hat-trick. Her pace was too much for the Trinity back line and she was allowed to skip free down the right flank and touch the ball down.
With only minutes remaining, Hallam turned the screw once more to end the game in style. Good passing between Wilbe and Dugdale set the latter free and after jinking past the last defender, she touched down to take the score to 40-0.
It was merely seconds later when Hallam added one final try. Wilbe charged through to score her second which turned out to be the last action of the game as the referee blew time to confirm the Hallam win.
Coach Ryan Amos and his players will be delighted to have started the new campaign in such a positive and convincing fashion and on this evidence, it could be the start of a successful campaign for the side.
