DORKING WOMEN V DIDCOT VALKYRIES
SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we welcomed Didcot Valkyries to the Big Field to play our 10th NC3 League match. The weather was kind to us and the pitch in perfect condition.
As Didcot’s playing kit is very similar to ours, the Dorking Women donned the club’s away kit of navy & white hoops. It took supporters (and even the coaching team!) a little while to adapt and with our red and white socks, there were a lot of stripes on the pitch!
Knowing that a win would secure them the League, the Dorking Women started as they meant to go on. Within 4 minutes, Rachel Higgins exploited a gap in Dicot’s defence, whizzed through to score the opening try and successfully slotted the conversion.
At the restart, the ball was shipped out to Jemma Wood who started one of her trademark runs down the wing, but Didcot were having none of it and very effectively bundled her into touch. It was clear the Valkyries were going to put up a fight. Although they secured the lineout, the ball was quickly recovered by Dorking, who passed the ball out to Jemma again and this time she was successful. Rachel added the conversion and we were 14 – 0 up.
A strong period of play in the middle of the pitch followed the restart, but hard work by the forwards resulted in the ball getting back into Rachel’s hands and she broke through to score under the posts and slot the conversion. The pattern was repeated shortly afterwards, with Rachel again scoring and converting, bringing us to 28 – 0.
Despite the rising scoreline, Didcot kept their cool and it took strong breaks from Lucie Warren, Naomi Brown, Jas Pitt-Payne and Leah Garel to get the ball back out to Jem, who scored again. Unfortunately, the conversion was missed. Some 10 minutes later, after consistent and well-structured play from Dorking, Rowan Shiers took a quick tap penalty and the ball went through the hands to Caroline Court, who scored in the corner. Conversion missed.
The next restart saw a great break from Jas, who was playing in the backs for the first time in 5 years, and after taking out 4 or 5 defenders, the ball went back through the hands for Rachel to score her 4th try of the day.
Didcot weren’t giving up. Some strong play got them up to our 10 m line and they were only thwarted by strong tackles from the likes of Dara Wilson, Ellie Richards, Tamzin Kerslake, Iva Hardwick and Lynn Tickner. We got the turnover and great runs from Rachel, Jem, Dara, Naomi and Leah got us back into Didcot’s 22. After several frenetic passages of play, Lucie got close to the tryline, and scrum half Dara sneaked in to score. Conversion missed.
Dorking had their tails up and it wasn’t long before Rachel scored again. 53 – 0 at half time.
The second half started with a bang as a rejuvenated Didcot hit the ground running. Some lovely passages of play saw the ball get shipped out to their 18 year old fly half, who raced round to score. Conversion missed but on the score-sheet at 53 – 5.
Dorking responded strongly. Solid scrummaging by H Cater, Ellie and the rest of the pack and decent phase play saw us work our way back up the pitch. Repeated attempts were made by Marcie Wood, Rowan and Lynn to break through Didcot’s defence, which held firm until the ball popped out to Naomi who scored in the outer channel.
Didcot took the restart but Dorking were able to steal the ball again and attack. Strong runs from Rachel, Dara, Naomi and Lauren Parsons got us up to within 10 metres, then some good phase play saw the ball go wide to Jacqui “Bean” Ide, who scored. Rachel converted.
Following the restart Didcot held us back within our own half for a period of time with strong defence. Eventually they conceded a penalty and, from the line out, the ball was passed wide to Jem, who took off on the wing, running from our 22 up to score.
Didcot were still fighting hard however, and Dorking’s next attempt was strongly rebuffed. Time and again, our players punched through with Erin Taylour, Lauren, Hannah McAlpine, Naomi and Jas all making ground. Some handling errors kept us camped in the midfield for some time and it was by sheer hard work and determination that we got back up in their 22 and created some space for Rachel to burst through for her 6th try and 6th conversion of the day.
Didcot were not going to give up and in the final few minutes of the game they flooded into our 22. Fierce defence from Lauren, Hannah, Jem, Nat Rudley and Hayley Murphy amongst others, held them at bay for a while but a penalty was taken quickly and another of their 18 year olds took the honours by scoring under the posts. The conversion was good, giving a final score of 77 – 12.
The win for Dorking sealed our place at the top of the League and gave us a clean sheet of 10 wins out of 10 games. Huge credit to Didcot for making it a tough and hard-fought game despite the scoreline. Congratulations to Laveeza Raja playing in her first League match and to our Ref, Natalie Gregory, just 17 years old but extremely competent. A fitting tribute to International Women’s Day and this year’s themes of Inclusion and Empowerment.
Forward of the match - Marcie Wood
Back of the match - Dara Wilson
Player of the match - Jacqui Ide
