Emphatic win over travelling Reds

Canterbury Women welcomed Jersey Women, the last time the Reds visited was back in 2015. The match was preceded by a two minutes silence to mark Remembrance Sunday. It is especially important as current serving officer, and Canterbury player, Major A. Willis was away from the pitch leading the commemorative parade with her battalion.

With an early kick off (noon) to accommodate the return flight, the Reds certainly brought power, passion and energy from the first whistle. This was matched by Canterbury with Lily Adams finishing off a slick attacking phase of play which saw every back involved. Kate Rutherford smoothly slotted the conversion.

From the restart Canterbury were buoyed by with enthusiasm, a text book jackal from Captain Daniella Charles. Janina Hassen running an aching line from outside centre to set up a two on one down the left wing. It saw Alice Hayward take the ball at full pace and score. A quick restart from Rutherford saw Jersey on the back foot with a huge hit coming in from Inger Philpott. Quick rucking and a sniping line break from Rutherford. She dotted the ball down under the post but a high tackle from the Reds, as she made her break, resulted in a penalty try being awarded. Taking Canterbury to a 19-0 lead within 15 minutes.

Jersey hit back from the restart and maintained control of the ball for several phases, hitting back with a converted try. This buoyed the spirits amongst the Reds and within minutes they had scored again closing the gap to 19-14.
The ten minutes which followed saw aggressive tackling from Canterbury driving Jersey deep into their own half. With organised rucking offering scrum half Ella Jenkins a clean platform. The backs ran wonderful lines drawing in the Reds to over commit at the breakdown. Rutherford identified a gap, tapping down to get her name on the score sheet.

Number 8 Hannah Sandeman saw her dogged determination in the contact rewarded with a turnover, twenty metre run including two powerful fends rewarded with a try; converted by Rutherford.

Canterbury headed into halftime with a 31-14 lead and the try bonus point already secured.

With the second half underway, the Canterbury Women were set on controlling the scoreboard and offer further reasons for the incredible supporters to continue to roar!

Alice Hayward made a strong break down the wing to score her second in the corner. Canterbury rang in the changes with the game offering an opportunity for new players to take to the field. Jersey took advantage of the players looking to reorganise their defensive line and touched down for a further 5 points. From this score, Canterbury kicked on with clinical rucking and quick delivery from Jenkins linking to forwards and backs. Lily Adams impressed with her dynamic side stepping which was rewarded with a converted try. Second-row partners Emma Alleyne and Jo Cole-Biroth dominated in the contact area and inspired debutant Olivia Crebbin to carry the ball hard setting up a great platform for scrum-half Jenkins to unleash a fierce fend and get her name on the score sheet. The next try saw the Double Emily show unleashed with a powerful carry from Emily Kent which was lifted gently into the hands of Emily Moriarity who broke the gain line and offloaded to the maverick Lucy Relf who secured a further five points for Canterbury. The final play of the afternoon saw Nicole Money score her first, hopefully of many, try in the back and amber jersey.

Canterbury women would like to say a special thank you to the Mini and Juniors who came to support today, run water on and retrieve the balls.