Jersey RFC Women 29
Tries: Hart 16, McGuigan 21, 55, Martins 34, Vallance 43
Conversions: Boakye-Yiadom (2)
Silhillians Sirens 12
Tries: Darlison 3, Davies 8
Conversion: Davies
Attendance: 250
As the start of any game could go, let alone the final tune-up, on home turf, to a season-ending cup contest, things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Island’s female rugby squad.
Twice in eight minutes they had been carved open for tries by their visitors from the Midlands, but this also sparked exactly the response that home supporters were looking for: no more points conceded, and five tries of their own to claim a convincing win.
After back-to-back games to conclude a successful league programme, the Jersey squad had been hit by a raft of unavailabilities due to injury niggles and other commitments, leaving head coach Simon Le Moignan digging deep to muster a full XV and a handful of replacements.
Silhillians took full advantage of their opponents’ lacklustre start as strong centre Kate Darlison powered to the line and then scrum-half Bethan Wyn Davies chased a kick ahead, got the touch-down and converted her own try. The home side roared back, starting to show some potency in attack with forwards Holly Bertram and Willow Le Luan, and fly-half Taye Boakye-Yiadom, left, especially prominent.
After forcing a five-metre scrum, Emily Hart slipped through for the opening score, and then Claudia McGuigan was on hand to follow up a storming run from a guest player, named as “Emily” in
post-match interviews.
This left just a two-point deficit at the end of the 30-minute half, and within five minutes of the resumption the women in red were ahead after scrum ball was efficiently worked to Saskia Martins for a try.
Tails were well and truly up in the home camp now, with Kim Vallance going over from close range for the fourth try, and in the dying moments McGuigan claimed her second after a loose ball was kicked ahead and the centre won the race.
Having earlier slotted a straightforward kick, Boakye-Yiadom nailed a tricky conversion – and celebrated the feat with gusto – to round off the scoring.
Those opening eight minutes apart, the home defence was solid, and attempts by the Sirens to grab a late consolatory try were met with a solid wall of red, one which Jersey supporters hope will be back in place on Siam Cup Day.
JRFC Women: (1-15): Beth Rosser, Amber Hopwood, Holly Bertram, Ella Vieira, Halen Papworth, Willow Le Luan, Katie De La Cloche (capt), Kim Vallance; Emily Hart, Taye Boakye-Yiadom; Serena Mauger, Saskia Martins, Claudia McGuigan, Roxy Griffin; Tina Davies. Replacements: Franky Vautier, Beth Druce
