REPORT | Harlequins Ladies 80-7 Worcester Valkyries

Worcester Valkyries were defeated 80-7 by Harlequins Ladies on Saturday in Round 15 of Tyrrells Premier 15s at Surrey Sports Park.

Coming up against the second-placed team in the league, Valkyries were undone by tries for Aldora Itunu (3), Sam McCarthy (3), Shaunagh Brown (2), Fiona Fletcher, Holly Myers, Megan Brown and Chloe Edwards.

For Valkyries, debutant Vicky Foxwell crossed in the first-half to give the away fans something to cheer about but it was a comfortable win for title-chasing Quins.

The game opened in a very competitive spirit as both sides were able to get hands on the ball but there were early signs of Quins pressure as they had two attempts held up over the line.

But the dam wall finally broke as Quins captain Fletcher scored with a pick-and-go from the resulting scrum.

Valkyries got up field in search of a reply but it was the hosts who added the next scores through Myers and Itunu following some flowing backs play and good work from the forwards.

Roy Davies’ Valkyries then got on the scoreboard after marching up the pitch with the help of a penalty before executing a well-worked move to set Foxwell free under the posts.

But the visitors endured a tough run in to the break, as an Akina Gondwe yellow card allowed Quins to score through Itunu and Shaunagh and Megan Brown.

After the interval, Itunu claimed her hat-trick by finishing in the corner after a five-metre lineout and then replacement McCarthy got herself on the scoresheet as she was able drive over under the posts.

Again, there was a good response from Valkyries who shut up shop for a while, but replacement Jo Richards suffered a broken arm soon after coming on and having used all their substitutes, the visitors were forced to finish the game with 14 players.

And that proved a difficult task, with Quins adding further scores for Edwards, McCarthy (2) and Shaunagh Brown to complete the win.

Valkyries’ next game sees a return to Sixways against Darlington Mowden Park Sharks on Saturday 3 March (kick-off 2pm).

Valkyries | 15 Carys Cox, 14 Nikita Frere (Rigby 55), 13 Megan Varley, 12 Vicky Foxwell, 11 Brooke Clarke (Mullen 46), 10 Rebecca Scholes (Hayward 55), 9 Sian Moore; 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Lark Davies (C) (Alevropolous-Borrill 57), 3 Nat English (Leatherland 60), 4 Sarah Bill (Richards 51), 5 Ruth Black, 6 Cara Brincat, 7 Charlie Wilcock (Leatherland 30-40, Ifans 40), 8 Daisy French

Replacements | 16 Morfudd Ifans, 17 Lauren Leatherland, 18 Allana Alevropolous-Borrill, 19 Jo Richards, 20 Danni Rigby, 21 Eloise Hayward, 22 Jade Mullen

Timeline
08m | Fletcher try 5-0
09m | Green con 7-0
13m | Myers try 12-0
14m | Green con 14-0
17m | Itunu try 19-0
18m | Green con 21-0
27m | Foxwell try 21-5
28m | Foxwell con 21-7
31m | Itunu try 26-7
34m | S Brown try 31-7
35m | Green con 33-7
36m | M. Brown try 38-7
37m | Green con 40-7
49m | Itunu try 45-7
52m | McCarthy try 50-7
53m | Green con 52-7
62m | Edwards try 57-7
63m | Green con 59-7
64m | McCarthy try 64-7
65m | Green con 66-7
70m | S Brown try 71-7
71m | Green con 73-7
76m | McCarthy try 78-7
77m | Green con 80-7