Match Reaction - Susie Appleby
By Harry Scott-Munro
19/12/21
It’s not difficult to be impressed with your side after an 88-0 victory away from home.
For Exeter Chiefs Women’s Head Coach Susie Appleby, she was left incredibly satisfied after seeing her side put in a performance where “they all did brilliantly.”
“There were some good performances out there,” she said. “Darlington gave it as good as they’ve got, but our girls were a level above. That was really pleasing and we happy to get back on the horse with a big win going into Christmas.”
The Chiefs scored 14 tries in all, with Ebony Jefferies scoring four, along with a double for both Patricia Garcia and Emily Tuttosi, plus further scores from Eilidh Sinclair, Merryn Doidge, Garnet Mackinder, Laura Sheehan and Nancy McGillivray, as Garcia and debutant Megan Foster added five and four conversions respectively from the tee.
Appleby switched up selection in a number of positions after last weekend’s defeat to Gloucester-Hartpury, handing first league starts to Sinclair and Nichola Fryday, who both impressed their Head Coach.
“Nich Fryday was fantastic and I thought Eilidh was outstanding today in the back-row too. There were some individuals who really shone through. That’s starting to show the strength and depth of our squad, which is where we’re trying to get to. To compete at the top, you need to have a whole squad that is capable of competing there.”
Appleby also singled out Chiefs debutant Foster, alongside Garcia in the unfamiliar role of centre and her replacement Nancy McGillivray.
“Meg (Foster) on her first start, was getting involved and was great. She settled into the game well and was really good off the tee Pat (Garcia) did really well at 12 and then Nancy came on and was great too.”
Appleby also handed a debut to Exeter University prop Lizzie Hanlon, who impressed with her physicality around the park in her time on the field.
“For Lizzie, it was brilliant to see her involved. She’s another product of the university system and it’s really coming to fruition now. We obviously know it’s going to get tougher but we’re in a really good place.”
With a number of players putting themselves into contention for selection, Appleby admits that she had some tough selection decisions to make once her injured players return.
“There’s going to be huge competition for shirts in all areas. You look at the back three and that scrum-half position there. I thought Flo (Robinson) was really good today and the back-row in-particular, with more to arrive. It’s an exciting time.”
Reflecting on the opening half of the season, Appleby was delighted with “some really good bits,” but was keen to stress the need for her side to continue to develop their consistency, ahead of a crucial block of matches in the new year.
“The important bit in the new year, is to get more consistency into our performance. I know I keep saying it but that’s what is going to keep us in the top four, having just nudged inside there. We have to put these performances on the field week in and week out, as it’s going to be a big block of games.”