WOODBRIDGE AMAZONS 5

HARWICH & DOVERCOURT OWLS 26

Women's NC South East North 1

HARWICH Owls made the relatively short journey up the A12 to try and get their season back on track after two defeats. They made a confident start and soon had the home side under pressure.

Full back Yas Amber burst the Amazons’ defence only to be stopped by a high tackle but she was able to off-load the ball to Mimi Montgomery, who scored under the posts.

Amber kicked the conversion.

Woodbridge started to exert pressure on the Owls but while their defence remained solid, their scrum was tested by the experienced Woodbridge front row and they conceded two penalties that were narrowly missed.

The Owls’ backs were now moving the ball well and from one sweeping move from their own 22 just failed to score when the referee deemed the ball held up after Naomi Dobner crashed over the line in the corner.

Although Harwich were more than matching the Amazons at line-outs and in the breakdown they continued to struggle in the scrums and it was from one of these that the home side’s fly-half evaded the defensive cover to score an unconverted try.

The second half started with Woodbridge on the offensive, but Harwich turned over possession and centre Sarah Nash, making her debut for the Owls, put in a big clearance kick upfield.

A good chase by Poppy Flatt put the full-back under pressure and she was tackled by the chasing Nash, before spilling the ball into the path of Bear Haywood, who sprinted 50 metres to score under the posts.

Injuries began to tell on the home side and they were reduced to 14 players when another debutante, Stevie Farrow, turned over the ball at a ruck and raced 40 metres for a try after throwing a dummy pass to fool the final defender.

Amber again converted the try.

The Owls scored again from the kick-off when Nash scythed and weaved through the defence before being tackled on the home 22.

She off-loaded to the impressive Montgomery, who brushed off two defenders to score in the corner.

Despite Woodbridge losing another player through injury the visitors were unable to break the stubborn Amazon defence and the final whistle blew with the score at 26-5.

Harwich were able to give two other players, Lauren Fee and Sierra Brown, their debuts and both demonstrated great abilities and will be great assets to the team.

Harwich and Dovercourt Owls' next league game is on October 30when they play at home against Harlow.