G's v Hove

This Sunday saw the ladies host Hove 2’s for their first home game of the season and what an epic game of rugby it was from both sides. After being promoted last season, the G’s are unfamiliar with the teams they are facing, so this Sunday they were unsure what to expect from Hove. However, it's safe to say the teams were incredibly well-matched in the first half.

Hove travelled light with only 14 players and G’s agreed to match, opening up the back field with a winger dropped from both sides. Hove decided to capitalise on this space and played a kicking game. This was a surprise to the G’s and caused some ruffles in their defensive line early on. Nevertheless, they managed to hold Hove off for the early minutes of the game. Adapting to the gameplay well, G’s dropped slightly in their backline allowing Shackel to take an exiting kick from Hove, run it wide using her pace, and score under the posts for G's first try of the game.

The remainder of the first half proved very much a rally style of rugby with possession going from one 22 to the other and back multiple times. Despite strong running lines from Hove, the G’s defence remained consistently strong, defying them grounding over the touchline. Coupled with exceptional turnovers from the Lewis duo and Muggeridge, G’s battled equally hard in response, working their way up the pitch. Despite relentlessness from both teams, many penalties and knock-ons from both led to a derth of tries for the remainder of the first half.

With injuries making their way through the Hove side, playing numbers eventually dropped down to 12 with G’s agreeing to match them. With the space opening up even more in the back field, G’s played this to their advantage and capitalised on the speed in the squad to break through the Hove defence. After a series of great forward pods from Sutton, Pullen and Sasserath, Carrick had a storming run, covering over half of the pitch and outrunning the opposition for her first try of the match. With both tries converted by Lewis (S), the G’s were 14 points ahead at 50 minutes in. Could Hove turn this around?

Unfortunately for Hove, Carrick’s try was a catalyst for more from G’s. After a strong scrum, G’s passed down the backline with Wallis powering through from fullback, drawing in the Hove players and allowing Shackel to run around for her second try under the posts. The last 20 minutes saw another two great line breaks from Lewis (N) and Muggeridge who both weaved through the defense with strong support in tow. Whilst Lewis managed to get all the way to the line, Muggeridge was painfully denied a well-earned try 5m out. But nevertheless, Carrick’s great supporting line got the ball over the line once again.

With 4 out of 5 conversions successfully completed by Lewis (S), the G’s finished the game with a cracking 33-0 win, making it 2/2 for their first two matches in their new league. Massive congratulations to the women and in particular Claire Sutton (FOTM), Issy Carrick (BOTM) and Amy Muggeridge (POTM).