Rugby: England A Women just miss out on victory

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England A 19 Nomads 22

An injury time try for flanker Pippa Crews handed the Nomads a thrilling, last gasp victory at Esher RFC on Saturday.

The Nomads, the men’s game equivalent of the Barbarians, had trailed for most of the game to a spirited young England A team.But it was the Nomads experience that paid off, with the array of former international players hammering England’s line in the final minutes of the game, with Crews dealing the final crushing blow.

Much like they had finished the Nomads started well, playing at a swift tempo, which saw them go close to scoring. But some great English defence held them at bay for a while at least.

A one-man advantage, when hooker Olivia Poore was sin-binned, saw the Nomads convert the pressure into points with New Zealand prop Stephanie Fox barging over.

Former England fly-half Shelley Rae couldn’t make the conversion and with England becoming more settled, the tide soon turned. Some good driving saw them get territorial advantage, but their downfall was not looking after the ball in contact.

But the nerves soon eased and with the Nomads this time going a player down, with Natalie Binstead in the sin-bin, England took the lead just before the half hour. Some good pressure by England saw them hammer the Nomads line and eventually No. 8 Nicola Hoole powered her way over the try line. With centre Abigail Chamberlain adding the conversion England took a 7-5 lead.

That lead was further increased when wing Sarah McKenna made a great break upfield, weaving her way around the Nomads defence. She didn’t have the legs to make it all the way to the try line but full back Kay Wilson was in support and she took the offload to score on the left wing. Again Chamberlain added the conversion.

The Nomads were as determined as ever before the break and a good line-out, catch and drive saw Leslie Cripps barge her way over the try line on 39^th minutes. Rae this time added the conversion to make the score 14-12 at half time.

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England came out firing after the break with scrum half Natasha Hunt going close early on, but it was McKenna who handed the home side a 19-12 lead. The Nomads were under pressure with a scrum close to their try line and with McKenna intercepting a pass the winger went over for England’s third try. Chamberlain this time couldn’t make the conversion.

The Nomads were by no means down and out though and they closed the gap on England once again with Fox touching down for her second try with another powerful drive from a ruck. Rae missed the conversion which could have pulled the Nomads level at 19-19 with 66 minutes gone, but it didn’t matter as the 84^th minute Crews try, following a sustained barraging of England’s line, sealed the game with the Nomads taking the 22-19 victory.

England A Head Coach Mike Barnett said: “I’m obviously disappointed with the result, but I am not disappointed with the performance. We could easily have won this match against a very experienced Nomads team and it was only a move in the last play of the game that changed this result.

“Considering this is a new squad, a young squad and we have introduced a new structure I am pleased with the performance. They will learn a lot from this result and that is what’s important about games like this. We are working towards the European Trophy and this is one step along the way.”

15. Kay Wilson (Richmond)
14. Samantha Bree (Worcester)
13. Amber Reed (Bristol)
12. Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond)
11. Sophie Nicholas (Lichfield)
10. Sarah McKenna (Old Albanians)
9. Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
1. Laura Keates (Worcester)
2. Olivia Poore (Wasps)
3. Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield)
4. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park)
5. Stacey Maguire (Lichfield)
6. Marlie Packer (Bristol)
7. Jane Leonard (Lichfield)
8. Nicola Hoole (Bristol)
Replacements:
16. Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
17. Charlotte Male (Bristol)
18. Emily Braund (Lichfield)
19. Isabelle Noel Smith (Bristol)
20. Fiona Davidson (Richmond)
21. Ceri Large (Worcester)
22. Natasha Jones (Lichfield)

Photo credit: rugbymatters.net.

Kim Mogg, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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