REPORT | Junior Plate exit for Blues Women

Posted: 30th October 2022
 

Bedford Blues Women will turn their attentions towards the remainder of the NC2 Midlands (Central) season after defeat in the Women’s Junior Plate ended their interest in the cup competitions for the 2022/23 campaign.

Peter Frost and Darryl Veenendaal’s side came up against a strong Welwyn outfit – who started with three Saracens Academy players – and suffered a 36-12 defeat at Bedford Athletic RFC.

There’s one thing that you’ve never been able to doubt about the team and that is their character and commitment to the cause. They were walking wounded out there at times as Welwyn launched some huge hits in the midfield, but not one player complained and constantly kept getting back off the canvas thinking a comeback was still on.

You can’t teach those attributes. And this team has them by the bucket load.

There will be disappointment that they couldn’t hold on to the 12-0 lead they held inside the opening 10 minutes.

Tabitha Everett continued her purple patch of form by finishing a free-flowing move that went from one end to the other; while Kelly Hodgson won the foot race from a neat nudge through to put Blues in a commanding position.

The second conversion attempt from out wide; majestic from Lucy Middleton.

Welwyn have been thumping teams this season and after a shock Junior Cup defeat, they are now heavily favoured to win the Plate and they showed their quality as the game went on.  

Their 10-12-13 system controlled the game and constantly kept finding ways to gain territory and momentum, eventually dotting down six tries to take the game away from a stubborn Blues side who refused to give in.

There will be learnings, but that’s only going to help the team, as they look to consolidate their standing towards the top of their league table ahead of some tricky fixtures coming up.

Bedford Blues Starting XV:

15. Alyce Trude, 14. Tabitha Everett, 13. Esme Fish, 12. Emily Wallbank (C), 11. Amy Winter, 10. Lucy Middleton (vc), 9. Abi Wilkin; 1. Emily McBarron, 2. Alivia Usher-Harris, 3. Lauren Mason, 4. Kelly Hodgson, 5. Megan Solomon, 6. Bex Young, 7. Laura Woodfield, 8. Emma Hunter

Bedford Blues Replacements:

16. Stephanie-Sarah McPhillips, 17. Hannah Donovan, 18. Emry Bond