Cranleigh Women’s beat travelling Weymouth and Portland!

Cranleigh RFC’s Wild Cranes joined up with Guidlfordians and welcomed Weymouth and Portland to Wildwood Lane on Sunday 7th April.
Whilst it was a relief that the rain had finally stopped, it was still very heavy underfoot and a southerly gale. Weymouth were slightly short of players so a huge thanks to Rachel, Erin, Cath and Elle for volunteering to help them out and with full commitment as well!
Cranefordians started with the sun at their backs and a strong cross wind. Weymouth commenced proceedings, kicking off, which was duly collected by Bex who took the ball forward and setup a solid ruck. A controversial turnover led to relinquishing possession and Weymouth were on the attack. However, they weren’t going anywhere as Sophie put in her first hit and Hannah forced them to kick. Nabs collected the ball and ran hard and straight, with the forwards securing the ball at the ruck and Dempsey seizing the opportunity to pick and go. Another ruck secured and Charlotte shipped the ball to Bex, who gave a pop pass to Lauren who ran a great line. 15m out as Lauren was being tackled, another pop to the supporting Hannah, who finished off the move, touching down under the posts.
Kick off straight went to Bex, who ran on setting up the ruck and Claire, Dempsey and Lauren combined well to make good ground. It all got a little bit scrappy and Weymouth managed to turnover the ball. Hannah chased hard pinning Weymouth in their half. Despite turning the ball over and some good carries, we spilt the ball on the left touch line to concede a scrum. A dominant scrum, led to a penalty which Tabitha punted down to Weymouth’s 5m line. A clever call at the line out went straight to Joss at the front and the forwards were quick to support her. Dempsey spotted a small gap and drove over the line. 10-0.
The restart went directly to Bex again who opted for some footwork to progress forward. Lovley off load to Hannah, who made 30m, but unfortunately the pass didn’t go to hand. Despite a decent nudge at the scrum, we were penalised for pulling it down. A very good kick by Weymouth took play to just outside our 22. Subsequent line out was not straight and Cranefordians opted for another line out which was wonderfully won by Joss and off they went. Hannah on one of her arcing runs and Willie taking a brave ball above her head with defenders approaching her and stepped and carried well. The forward pod was quickly in place and the speed of ball form Charlotte gave Bex and Nabs space to exploit and took play to half way. Dempsey took a quick tap and play was back in opposition half. A lovely carry by Nicole and long pass by Lauren to change the direction of attack which Nabs made the most of the switch, but just couldn’t get the off load. However Amy won one a hook against the head and despite the pass not quite going to hand, Eloisa collected and made an impressive run only to be cruelly denied a try as she was deemed held up. However the goal line drop out went straight to Nicole on the 5m line which she gladly accepted and touched down. 15-0. Despite a lovely strike by Willie, the wind played havoc and pushed the ball wide.
With Bex off the field, it was Lou Steeles time to shine as she collected the kick off and the forwards carried well. An unfortunate knock on led to a scrum, which had now gone uncontested. The Weymouth number 8 made a good run down the right flank and managed to pass inside, and their supporting runner touched down. 15-5. A good chase by Dempsey off the kick off, followed up by Sophie putting another big hit in and led to a penalty. The line out got blown off course in the high wind and it was scrum time. Weymouth number 8 tried to break again, only to be collared by Charlotte. Sophie turned the ball over then carried forward. Weymouth managed to win the ball back and kicked towards Elle, who ran a great line and made 30m. Amy went off on a run and Grace finally had some ball in hand, but was swung into touch. Play passed from one team to another until just before the end of the half. Weymouth had a scrum, number 8 picked but Sophie was all over her and then won the ball back. It went through the hands to Willie, who made good yardage. The ball ended up in Elles hands on the left wing and she ran powerfully touching down under the posts. Which Willie duly converted. A perfect catch and set up by Martina off the kick off , carries by the forwards finding Tabitha on the left who ran over half the pitch to touch down. Half time 22-5.
2nd Half
Willie kicked off the second half and although we started well with plenty of pressure, another penalty gave Weymouth the opportunity to take a quick tap and make some good ground. Only for the attacking player to be hauled down by grace at full back, although a little high. Lauren took a knock as she was winning a turnover and sadly had to leave the field. At the subsequent penalty the kick missed touch and was gathered by Joss and carried by Cath, but ended in a scrum. Good defence by Dempsey and Cath led to another turnover and Sophie was on it again. Weymouth regained the ball and Julie counter rucked aggressively. Elle took on Baby Becca around the outside but she was up to the challenge and put a halt to the attack. Ball won back and Julie took it on and then out of the back pass which caught everyone by surprise. A few phases later Weymouth attacked down the right wing through Erin, who Willie tackled well into touch, but caught a knock to the back of her head and had to leave the field.
Weymouth forwards attacked in waves, but the defence was resolute and ended in typical style with Dempsey winning it back. Quick tap and Sophie was on her way, Taking play up to our 10m line where Hannah was on hand to take the pass and take us into oppositions half. A two woman tackle dragged her down and forced the knock on. More pressure on the backs finished off with Sophie dumping her opposite number into touch. Weymouth had fought back well, keeping Cranefordians at bay. When they foolishly kicked to Grace, who ran a lovely line and was pulled up just short of the 22.
Joss was unlucky not to steal the line out as it just fell forward off her finger tips. Amy felt it was her time to have a run and powered up the middle to set up Tabitha on the far left to finish off another team try, which she was unlucky not to convert. Hannah gathered the ball at the following the kick off and took play up to the half way line. The forwards marched forward bringing play to just inside the 10m line. The ball was shipped out to Tabitha who spotted a gap and touched down for her hattrick. Conversion was into the wind and missed.
There was a bit of a lull in the action and much of the play took place in the middle of the park. However when Cranefordians were awarded a scrum on the 10m line. Dempsey had a go down the blind, dragging several defenders with her and the ever present Sophie was on hand to finish off the move in style. Match ended 42-5.​
We would just like to thank Weymouth and Portland for making the journey up to Cranleigh and we thoroughly enjoyed the fixture. As mentioned in the speeches after the game, the scoreline definitely did not reflect the tussle. We would also like to thank all of the women from Guidlfordians. Its always a pleasure playing along side you. A real team effort, with everyone making a contribution and certainly another step forward, much better structure and solid defence. We look forward to the return fixture on the 21st April. See you then