Smales wraps up scoring as Hawks put visitors to sword

HENLEY Hawks Women eased to a comfortable home Championship South Division 1 win against Sutton and Epsom Women last Sunday.

Henley started quickly and after a few phases of possession, the Hawks number nine Grace Harrison pinned the opposition back into the corner and a good chase from Gianna Noble-Cunningham led to a penalty straight from the catch. Relentless pressure led to a turnover and after a clean set piece from the forwards, the attack shifted to the other side of the field and Catriona Phillips drove over for the Hawks’ first try.

Soon after Lauren Mueller run a curved angle and found her way to the try line, her try converted by Lauren Knowler for 12-0.

From their kick-off chase Hawks created another turnover and Rebecca Bristow went over from close distance for her side’s third try which was once again converted by Knowler.

Kat Robinson then drove over the line having dived untouched through the Sutton and Epsom defensive line to secure Hawks’ bonus point.

The restart saw Sutton and Epsom’s first pressure on the Hawks’ try line with the hosts giving away a penalty from the kick-off. A kick to the corner from the visiting put the Hawks under pressure in their five metres which led to them giving away numerous penalties and Shira Kilgallon taking a knock making one of the biggest hits of the match.

The Hawks spirit never faded and after a brave defensive effort, a turnover led to a half-break from Mueller that allowed the ball to shift to the other side where winger Lowrie made a break, offloading out of a last-ditch tackle from Sutton and Epsom to Kara Herbst who stretched out at full reach for the line.

Mueller then combined with Jennifer Kingman to break up to the opposition 22 where a penalty was given away at the ruck. Mueller was once against in the action as she drove on a lost ball and quick reactions from her teammates saw New Zealand prop Zaria Kira dive over the line. With one minute of the half remaining, Sutton and Epsom manage to regain their own kick-off and play quickly to the opposite wing. However, they failed to hold on to the ball against a formidable Hawks defence and from a fine set piece the Hawks broke up the pitch through Mueller and Bristow again before second-row Kingman made the score 39-0 at half-time.

Early in the second half a bursting rolling maul saw the Hawks enter the opposition 22 but a knock-on gave them the chance to reset off a scrum. A clearance kick pushed the game back into the middle of the pitch and a line break from Sutton and Epsom put Hawks 15 Sophie Shams under pressure but she pulled off a fine tackle. However, quick hands from the backs gave Sutton and Epsom their first points of the game, taking the score to 39-5.

An immediate penalty from the kick-off gave the Hawks the upper hand again as they launched their first attack of the half and Harrison scored from the 10-metre line on her debut at scrum half. Knowler converted to make the score 46-5. Shortly after kick-off Hawks earned a penalty on the Sutton and Epsom 22 and from a thundering run the Hawks moved up to the five-metre line. Play was then stopped as Knowler got patched up before a move saw the final pass missed.

Noble-Cunningham then went straight from the turned-over scrum, made a fine run, scything through the centre of the opposition defence and dived in under the posts for a try which was once again converted by Knowler.

Following a long period of possession, the Hawks continued attacking with Lowrie taking an offload from Mueller and running in for her second try, converted by Knowler for 60-5.

With tired bodies emerging on both sides, the game became more attritional with forwards lining up carries and shots from both sides equally. A scrum on the Sutton and Epsom 10 metre line saw Hawks launch Noble-Cunningham down the wing, offloading to Knowler before Robinson made her way under the sticks for her second try and another conversion for Knowler.

Sutton and Epsom won a penalty from kick-off, which was punted back at them by Olive McNaney. A line-out ensued and Sutton and Epsom went short at the front, letting their prop take the five-metre channel. However, a subsequent turnover allowed Hawks to do the same through Herbst, bringing them back to the halfway.

Play stagnated at another scrum before a strategic box kick pressured the Hawks back three allowing Sutton and Epsom a turnover inside the Hawks 22.

With five minutes remaining, a tired Sutton and Epsom let Mueller break free, launching from a stolen line-out. Hawks had one final chance to score with a penalty won and Ellie Smales brushed off multiple defenders to dive in for the final score of the match.