Warriors Women began 2021 in emphatic fashion thanks to a resounding 70-6 victory over DMP Durham Sharks in Round 10 of the Allianz Premier 15s.
Jo Yapp’s side ran in 12 tries to secure the try bonus-point, with skipper Sioned Harries crossing for four of them as the Sixways outfit closed the gap on the top six.
Harries registered the first score as early as the fifth minute when she stretched over from close range after Canada wing Farries had got to within inches of the whitewash with a scintillating line break.
After a DMP penalty courtesy of Beth Blacklock reduced the deficit to 5-3, Farries notched up the first of her two tries as she rattled through the gears with a lung-busting carry down the far side to touchdown in style. Robyn Wilkins added the extras to make it 12-3.
Durham centre Blacklock kicked her second penalty soon after, but Farries was in the mood to cause mayhem for the Durham defence, and on 19 minutes bagged her brace for the afternoon – this time dotting down under the posts with a carbon copy of her first score. Wilkins slotted home the conversion to extend her side’s lead to 19-6.
Carys Phillips, on her return from a lengthy injury layoff, sealed the bonus point just past the half hour mark with a quick-fire double, before fellow compatriot Harries dotted down for her second try on the stroke of half-time. Wilkins arrowed the conversion between the posts to give Warriors a comfortable 38-6 interval lead.
Caryl Thomas continued the Welsh flavour with a try two minutes into the second half, the prop crashing through a series of would-be tacklers to touch down in style much to the delight of her teammates. Hannah Bluck got in on the act moments later as Warriors made full use of an overlap on the far side, with the impressive Jade Shekells providing the killer pass. Wilkins cannoned the post and bar with the subsequent conversion, but Warriors were in the ascendancy at 48-6.
On 51 minutes Harries completed her hat-trick, Durham having no answer to her sheer power and physique, and from the restart Brooke Bradley added her name to the score sheet before being replaced by Caity Mattinson at scrum-half. Warriors made full use of the bench, with the likes of Heather Fisher getting some valuable game time under her belt. There was also a debut for tight-head prop Abby Smitheman, who came on towards the end of the contest.
Harries racked up her fourth try of the afternoon in the closing stages just moments before debutant Charlotte Wright Haley went over for a superb individual try. Wright Haley fended off a series of defenders to dive over, with Wilkins adding the conversion to give Warriors a comprehensive victory at a bitterly cold Sixways.
Warriors Women | 15 Abi Kershaw, 14 Paige Farries, 13 Jade Shekells, 12 Meg Varley, 11 Hannah Bluck, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Brooke Bradley, 1 Caryl Thomas, 2 Carys Phillips, 4 Flo Long, 4 Philippa Rawbone, 5 Elizabeth Shermer, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Charlotte Haley Wright, 8 Sioned Harries ©
Replacements | 16 Hannah Stephens, 17 Carmen Tremelling, 18 Abby Smitheman, 19 Amelia Buckland Hurry, 20 Alex Callender, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Sarah Nicholas, 23 Heather Fisher
Timeline
5m | Harries try 5-0
7m | Blacklock con 5-3
11m | Farries try 10-3
12m | Wilkins con 12-3
19m | Farries try 17-6
20m | Wilkins con 19-6
31m | Phillips try 24-6
33m | Phillips try 29-6
34m | Wilkins con 31-6
35m | Harries try 36-6
35m | Wilkins con 38-6
37m | Thomas try 43-6
45m | Bluck try 48-6
49m | Harries try 53-6
51m | Bradley try 58-6
59m | Harries try 63-6
68m | Wright Haley try 68-6
69m | Wilkins con 70-6