Worcester Ladies v Waterloo, Senior Cup

The visitors arrived at Worcester with an impressive record of 13 wins from 13 and a points difference of 630 as league leaders, so the home knew that this would be a severe test of attrition, and it proved to be.

Worcester chose to give nine players their first team debut, and took to the field with a back line that had an average age of 19. Whilst this game undoubtedly gave the young 2^nd team players an opportunity to sample rugby at a higher level, the home side proved to be little match for a full strength Waterloo team, in which former England No. 8, Harriet Mills was in devastating form.

The Worcester pack had a torrid time all afternoon and scrum half Bianca Blackburn toiled impressively to retrieve the ball from scrummages that were constantly running backwards.

The writing appeared on the wall  from the kick off when the opposition pushed forward with pace and aggression to score through full back Dani Wiseman after just four minutes and two minutes later, added to their score when speedy winger Kate Edwards outpaced the Worcester defence and fly half, Bethany Scott added the extras.

Waterloo’s penalty count allowed Megan Goddard to put the home side on score board with a well struck kick after 16 minutes and further discretions from the visitors gave Goddard another opportunity to provide what could have been a platform for a comeback with the score at 6 -12.

However, Worcester were no match for the strong opposition who took complete control, admirably marshalled by Bethany Scott, and they added to their total with second try from Dani Wiseman, converted by Scott, to give the visitors a 6 – 19 advantage at the interval.

The home side appeared to re-group and found some belief at the start of the second half, playing the first twenty minutes in the opposition half, but were unable to score as handling errors were plentiful at the critical moments. Then came the time for Harriet Mills to impose herself, with strength and pace she twice broke the home line to score under the posts and give Scott easily conversion opportunities. 

On the stroke of full time Waterloo hammered home their superiority when Kate Edwards completed her brace, Scott again taking the extras.

Final score: Worcester 6 Waterloo 40

From Worcester’s perspective, this game gave an opportunity for players outside the first team squad to experience rugby at a higher level, and they are now aware of the gulf between the Womens Championship Midlands 2 and Womens Championship North, but they have something to aspire to. Lyndsay O’Donnell and Bianca Blackburn worked hard and gave admirable performances for Worcester, and for Waterloo, Bethany Scott and Harriet Mills were imperious.

Waterloo, who acquitted themselves impressively, have now won all of their Senior Cup games, which suggests that they will compete at premiership level in future.

David Guest

Worcester 1stXV Manager.

Photo from www.ajbphotographic.co.uk