Henley Hawks 17 v 27 T-Birds
ANOTHER long trek away from home proved very testing in more ways than one for the T-Birds.
Firstly, after leaving at 9.30 and having to go via Heathrow to pick up 2 players who had flown overnight form Dubai, the coach, after several, traffic jams, finally arrived in Henley at 2.15, fifteen minutes after the supposed kick off.
After a hasty warm up the game kicked off at 2.30.
Secondly, Henley gave the T-Birds their nastiest fright of the season.
T’s started well and,despite missing all five England players, scored a try through Natalia Corrales, after some great inter-passing. It was converted, from wide out, by ‘Zaza’ Nojoko.
Some probing kicks form Nojoko kept Henley pinned in their own half and, after some great driving work from the forwards, Clare Phelps picked up and drove over for a try. This time the conversion hit the post.
At this point Phelps was carded for entering a ruck from the side. T-Birds, a forward short, surprisingly carried on dominating in the forwards and scored a try through the rampaging Frankie Jordan.
Henley then came to life and T’s defended well under a sustained onslaught, for the remainder of the half.
17-0 at half time.
Early in the second, Henley started to pile on the pressure and Jen Mountjoy was carded for a late tackle. She protested that she was always late for everything, but to no avail.
Henley started to run the ball wide and cause trouble for the t-Birds. After a brief T’s attack Henley gave the ball to their full back who sprinted fully 90 metres to score.
Minutes later the Henley 10 notice the lack of a player out wide and chipped over the top of the defence for the same 15 to gather the ball and sprint in for her second try of the game. Stung by this, T-Birds rallied and, buoyed by the return of Mountjoy, put forward pressure on the Henley line, but could not score.
The home side produced another attack, and their third try plus the conversion brought the score s level at 17 all.
Facing the possibility of their first league defeat in 2 seasons by a now rampant Henley side, the girls really showed their true grit and class. They first gained the field advantage and then pounded away on the Henley line for what seemed like ages, until the elusive South African international back row, Lala Vazi touched down for her third try in as many games. A vital score that finally broke the resistance of a very good Henley side.
Further pressure from the forwards at the death resulted in a second try for Clare Phelps, and a fifth try bonus point for the T-Birds.
Forward of the match was Jen Mountjoy, despite her naughty step visit, and back of the match for her jinking runs and outstanding defensive tackling was India Harvey.
T-Birds now lead their league by 20 clear points.
Next week (Sun 14th) the T-Birds play Richmond where a win would make the league almost impossible to lose with 3 games remaining.
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Team: Ortega Corrales (T), Harris, Harvey, Hepper Francis, Njoko (1C), Cook, Micallef, Nicholls, Mountjoy, Jordan.F (T),  French, Radford,  Vazi,(T) Phelps (2T)Â
