Chiefs Women 21 Warriors Women 23
Exeter Chiefs Women 21
Worcester Warriors Women 23
Mark Stevens at Sandy Park
If this weekend is to be the last hurrah for Worcester Rugby Club, the Warriors Women underlined their togetherness with a never-say-die performance that certainly deserved many plaudits at Sandy Park.
With the threat of suspension, even overall expulsion from all competitions, Jo Yapp’s side simply refused to give in, inflicting a last-gasp defeat on hosts Exeter Chiefs in this latest Allianz Cup encounter.
El Febrey’s converted try, just minutes from the end, sealed a sterling fightback for the Midlanders and left the Chiefs looking for answers in the defence of their Cup crown.
Not that it looked as though the Chiefs were going to struggle, leading 14-8 at the turn thanks to converted first half scores from Maisy Allen and Poppy Leitch, and continuing to lead well into the second half thanks to a further touchdown from Charlie Willett.
The Warriors, though, refused to surrender and having claimed a first half penalty from Cat McNaney and a try from Vicky Laflin, they pressed hard after the break to seal their success thanks to the tries from Charlotte Wright-Haley and Febrey.
Ahead of kick-off, Chiefs head coach Susie Appleby had opted to stick with a virtually unchanged starting line-up from that which had thumped DMP Sharks 73-0 the previous week. The sole change came in the pack where Lizzie Hanlon started at tight-head in place of Georgie Grimes.
The continuity from that victory was evident from the outset and buoyed by a crowd of over 4,000 in attendance, it was the Chiefs who came out firing from the outset. Some heavyweight carrying set the tone for the hosts, who took just two minutes to break the game’s deadlock.
Initial carries from Ebony Jefferies and Willett were then followed up by more industrious work from Leitch and Nancy McGillivray, before Allen picked up just yards from the line and - aided by a couple of team-mates - drove over the whitewash for the opening score, converted by the boot of McGoverne.
It was the perfect start for the Chiefs and no more than they deserved given the initial efforts that had put in.
Worcester, though, looked for a quick response and within minutes they had cut the deficit as full-back McNaney landed a routine penalty from in front of the posts after the home side had strayed offside in midfield.
Undeterred, the Chiefs quickly got back into their attacking groove and continued to press away at the Worcester defensive line. However, a combination of things would hinder their progress, either sloppy handling, slowness to the ruck or dogged defence from the visitors would hold their charge at bay, much to the frustration of the watching Appleby in the stands.
The pressure, though, was mounting and midway through the half they finally added to their tally. Strong running from Brooke Bradley and Charlotte Woodman got the hosts on the front foot, allowing them to shunt the ball from wide right to wide left, where Leitch picked up from the back of the ruck and bulldozed her way to the line for a second converted score.
The watching masses were certainly enjoying the Chiefs charge, but that would be all they could muster in a first half which, to be honest, offered plenty of hugs and puff, but a lack of killer instinct.
Worcester made the most of Exeter’s inability to turn pressure into points and just before the break they stung their hosts with their opening try, Laflin fending off the attentions of Bradley and Woodman to finish off a period of sustained pressure.
HALF TIME: EXETER CHIEFS WOMEN 14 WORCESTER WARRIORS WOMEN 8
The interval allowed Appleby and fellow coach Steve Salvin the opportunity to get stuck into their players and it appeared as though their words had the desired effect as the Chiefs again began the second period at a rate of knots.
Ten minutes had elapsed after the restart when Bradley shipped a pass into the hands of hooker Cliodhna Moloney. The Irish International, a summer signing from Wasps, latched onto the moving ball and in an instance applied the after burners as she tore through the Warriors line.
Although felled just shy of the line by a double tackle, team-mate Willett was running hard on her shoulder, picking up the ball and dotting over for the easiest score she will get this season. McGoverne added the extras and the Chiefs were firmly in control of proceedings it seemed.
Willett departed the field shortly after feeling the effects of a heavy collision, while fellow lock Nic Fryday would also need to be replaced late on leaving the hosts shy of some notable power in the Exeter engine room.
Worcester, on the other hand, were looking lively and when they nudged over a second penalty through the boot of Clarke, the deficit was down to just ten points.
With the bit between their teeth, the Warriors continued to press forward, asking questions of a Chiefs side who were clearly struggling to find their rhythm. For lengthy spells, Appleby’s side soaked up a lot of what their rivals were throwing at them.However, that visiting threat was mounting and it came as no surprise when they further reduced the deficit with a second try.
Just as the Chiefs had dented Worcester first half with some hard-running lines, now it was the turn of the Warriors to do the same, the fruits of which saw flanker Wright-Haley dart between the grasp of Clara Nielson and Fryday, before rounding Bradley for the try.
The momentum was clearly with the Warriors and with the Chiefs struggling to get out of their own half, even when they had rare moments of possession, it was the visitors who would ultimately strike late on.
A line-out wide on the left saw Febrey find Sarah Moreira at the front, her fellow forwards gathered around her, and when push came to shove, it was the hooker who drove through at the rear to claim the score.
Parity on the scoreboard, it was left to Clarke to step forward and dispatch the match-winning conversion, much to the delight or her team-mates.
Chiefs: K Buchanan; C Woodman, L McGoverne, N McGillivray (S Langford 77), H Derera (M Doidge 48); F Robinson, B Bradley; M Roberts (P Muzambe 32), C Moloney, L Hanlon (G Grimes 65); N Fryday (K Hayes 74), C Willlett (C Nielson 55); E Jefferies (E McMahon 40), P Leitch (capt), M Allen. Replacement (not used): D Preece
Tries - Allen, Leitch, Willett; Conversions - McGoverne (3)
Warriors: C McNaney; D Wills, C Cox, H Bluck (E Clarke 15), V Laflin (cc); A Kershaw, J Kershaw (T Sellors 40); S Evans, E Febrey, F Long (C Tremelling 44); A Buckland-Hurry (E Sheerer 48), S McCarthy (S Moreira 71); C Brincat, C Wright-Haley, J Brown (cc). Replacements: C Wells.
Tries - Laflin, Wright-Haley, Febrey, Conversion - Clarke; Penalties - McNaney, Clarke
Referee: R Piddleston
Attendance: 4,112