By Florence Fudge

Bishop’s Stortford Women’s XV continued their unbeaten streak this season with an impressive 64-7 victory over Haverhill & Dist Ladies in their first-ever Saturday home fixture. This match, which was initially in doubt due to a late player shortage from Haverhill, was made possible thanks to the determination of team manager Kate Hawkins, who worked tirelessly to ensure the game went ahead. Despite Haverhill’s struggles, BSRFC lent seven players to their opponents, allowing the match to proceed smoothly.

From the opening whistle, it was clear that the Stortford women were in fine form. The first try of the match came from outside centre, Elise Sauvary, who crossed the try line to give the home team a 5-0 lead. Fly-half, Rebekah Coppen quickly followed with a second try, extending the score to 10-0. Haverhill were resolute in their efforts and ensured that the game was competitive, pushing the women in blue hard in the early stages.

The third try of the match was scored by flanker, Sarah Harvey, and with an impeccable conversion from Coppen, the score moved to 17-0. Just moments later, Harvey was at it again, grabbing another try, with Coppen once again converting to bring the score to 24-0.

The tries kept flowing in the first 40 minutes, with scrum-half Donna McDonald scoring another try, followed by another successful conversion from Coppen. At 31-0, it seemed like the game was firmly in Stortford’s control. The final tries of the first half came from captain Jasmin Bice and winger Alice Borman, with Coppen’s flawless kicking record ensuring that Stortford went into the break with a commanding 43-0 lead.

The second half was just as entertaining, despite the Stortford women showing signs of fatigue from their dominant first half performance and Haverhill, although now heavily reliant on Stortford players, still refused to back down. Sarah Harvey completed her hat trick with the first try of the second half, bringing the score to 50-0. Charlii Kempton, making her first-ever try for the club, added to the total, once again converted by Coppen, bringing the score to 57-0.

An injury to one of the Haverhill players meant that Stortford loaned their only sub to the opposition, bringing the total number of players loaned to Haverhill to eight. Stortford continued to play a structured and skilful game, demonstrating their training with a series of beautifully executed set pieces from both the forward and back packs.

Full-back, Amy Vernon added to the tally with the tenth try of the match, sprinting down the wing and evading a tiring Haverhill defence. As the match wore on, Stortford began to show some signs of complacency, giving away penalties and causing errors as the game wound down. Haverhill, to their credit, and notwithstanding the huge score margin, continued to push hard and despite breaking through the Stortford’s defence and getting over the try line they were ultimately unlucky with this attempt disallowed after a held-up decision by the referee.

In the final minute, the Stortford women, now fatigued from an 80-minute battle, allowed a Haverhill attacker through for a try, which was successfully converted as the final whistle blew, bringing the score to 64-7.

• Forward of the match: Sarah Harvey for her dominant performance, including a hat-trick of tries.
• Back of the match: Alice Borman for her exceptional performance on the wing and her consistent defensive and attacking contributions throughout the game.

Matchday squad:
1. S Howell; 2. C Kempton; 3. L Opperman; 4. A Madigan-Rowe Ramos; 5. Y Knott (VC); 6. L Jordan; 7. S Harvey; 8. L Cushway; 9. D McDonald; 10. R Coppen; 11. G Butler; 12. J Bice (C); 13. E Sauvary; 14. A Borman; 15. A Vernon; 16. R Lee; 17. B Jones; 18. C Day; 19. I Brown; 20. H Stoner; 21. B O’Mahoney; 22. S Schutte