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LADIES  TEAM   Match Report

WRFU National Challenge Cup North
Quarter Final - Sunday 14th December 2003

Lutterworth v Angels of the North

It was a long journey south for the Newcastle based team to visit
reigning champions Lutterworth in the quarter-final of the National
Challenge Cup.

Lutterworth started well with and spent the first 10 mins of the game
camped in the Angel's 22. However, an interception by their fly-half saw
her sprint the length of the pitch, almost untouched. to score the first
try of the game.

The inexperience of the Angel's started to show as they conceded penalty
after penalty and slowly Lutterworth gained territory as they moved up
the pitch. As the pressure built on Angels they conceded another penalty
which was taken into contact by Nicola Crick, this was then set and fed
to second row, Felicity Booth who powered over the line to equal the
score, Vicki Berridge then converting to give Lutterworth the lead.

The Angel's soon responded, with their fly-half placing continuous
pressure on the Lutterworth back line they managed to create an overlap
which Lutterworth struggled to defend and their winger crossed the line
for a try. Lutterworth responded, again working their way up the pitch
through the intelligent kicking of Berridge and the influence of Louise
Smith making lineout possession almost certain.

A knock on by the Angel's saw Lutterworth with a scrum, 5m from the
line. No. 8, Zoe Frith, returning from injury, picked up from the back
of the scrum and drove over the line to score, a "Frith Special".

The second-half saw Lutterworth yet again reduced to 14 players, through
an injury to the inside centre. However, even though a player
down Lutterworth had complete control of the scrums, driving Angel's
back and spoiling or stealing possession on many occasions. It was from
such a drive that Frith again picked up from the back of the scrum and
touched down for her second try of the match.

Angel's fought back to score again, this time through a quick penalty
taken by their second row, who due to some poor tackling from
Lutterworth easily busted through Lutterworth's defence. Lutterworth
responded with some fantastic loose play, seeing the backs and forwards
interlink with some great passing. Prop, Crick was fed by fly-half Karen
Burnett and was not going to stopped by anyone as from a determined
drive she crossed the line to score in the far corner, equalling the
scores at 22-22.

Unfortunatly, with less than 2 mins to go the Angel's fly-half dealt
Lutterworth a massive blow, searing down the wing again to score under
the posts. This was of slight consolation as due to the competition
rules, even if the match had resulted in a draw no extra time is played
and the away team automatically go through to the next round.

Lutterworth now have a four week break over Christmas, time to re-group
and hopefully begin the new year with the return from injury of a number
of key players.

FINAL SCORE: 22-27