Hornets Women Fall To Brave Defeat

This week Hornets Ladies travelled to Sheffield for a fixture rearranged from round one.

With a number of players unavailable due to prior arrangement and injury, the squad travelled with only 14 players but in typically good spirits. 

Hornets arrived at Sheffield with players stuck in traffic and had to start a player short. 

The disjointed preparation, and the missing bodies, really showed in the opening ten minutes with Sheffield going in for four early tries. 

Once Hornets had a full compliment, the travelling faithful started to witness the Rochdale side we are used to. 

Sheffield, as their form and league position suggests, are an accomplished side and not one that you can hand a lead to. 

For the 20 minutes either side of half time though, Hornets matched Sheffield and even dominated - in periods. 

A returning Georgia Turner fitted back in to the group perfectly, another player who loves to play a gritty brand of rugby league. 

Once Hornets had got into their groove and established the fundamentals that have seen them dominate games, tries started to come. 

The industrious Harriet Widdup, who is as dangerous without the ball as she is with it, crossed for a brace of tries - one of which was converted by Tammy Murphy. 

Then, our young exciting fullback Libby Hadfield cut a line through the Sheffield defence and went over. 

The game was an extremely tough contest, especially so for a team with only one substitute. 

But, certain Hornets players though seem to revel in that environment, notably Chloe Mansell and Claire Sutcliffe. 

Chloe is as tough as they come, with an evil hand-off! Claire never takes a backward step, small in stature but huge in character.

The last 20 minutes were tough, in 20-degree heat and tiring fast, Hornets shipped late tries. 

The game ended 54-14, a disappointing result but a game the Hornets will learn an awful lot from.

Player of the Match, chosen by the Sheffield coaches, was Steph Hillen who covered every blade of grass and hit everything that moved. 

Coach Wayne English commented: “There were plenty of positives today despite the result - it’s a tough place to come with only 14 players. 

"Take away that first ten minutes and we competed really well for the majority of the match. 

"The effort, and attitude, to keep going when we only had one substitute was brilliant.

"We know we can be better but well done to all the ladies.”

Hornets: Libby Hadfield, Millie Harris, Chloe Mansell, Claire Sutcliffe, Emelie Byron, Harriet Widdup, Steph Hillen, Georgia Turner, Morgan Pearson, Tammy Murphy, Sam Brazier, Nina Brookes, Beth Harris, Devon Hensby.