Southampton Ladies proved too strong for Bath 2nds with a win to nil in the Women’s Junior Cup this weekend. Coach James “Badger” Greenwood admitted that his selection for this match was difficult, with a number of absentees meaning that several players were forced into unfamiliar positions.

Although the final score was 39-0 in favour of the visiting Southampton side after a clinical attacking performance, in reality the match was much closer than it looked.
Greenwood said: “I’m chuffed to bits, the result is very pleasing, there are a few things to work on such as our shape and turnovers and we had a fair few of the girls in different positions, but we’ve got that place in the next round which is the most important thing. All the girls did very well today, Bath were better than the score would suggest and it was another very tough game for us, but I’vegot to be very happy with today’s match.”

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes in which Bath began strongly, Southampton opened the scoring through Alex Parker’s first try for the club when she drove under the posts following pressure at the scrum. Saints seven-try display was spearheaded by full-back Chloe Barrett, who helped herself to five of them in a blistering 80 minutes at Lambridge.

Barrett got off the mark two minutes on with a stunning individual effort from deep, with the conversion from kicker Amy Brittan successful. That made the score 12-0, and Southampton’s advantage was stretched further, once more through Barrett, to send the team in at the interval 17 points ahead and looking in total control. Bath 0-17 Southampton at half-time.

There was no let up from the Saints side who continued to pull away and Barrett completed her hat-trick under the posts on 53 minutes as a physical and combative home side started to tire. Any hopes Bath may have had of a comeback had long been snuffed out and it was now a question ofwhat Southampton’s winning margin would be. Barrett added two more - with one conversion from close range by Brittan - and then Parker slid in for her second of the day late on to complete the rout.

A great all round team performance with some excellent individual play as the team move on to the third round of the Junior Cup competition.

There were no prizes for guessing the back of the match - five try Chloe Barrett with the returning Nicky Marlow forward of the match after she was everywhere for Southampton in the scrum.

Southampton Ladies RFC would like to thank our sponsors The Edge and Box Bar, Popworld,
London Road Brew House for their continued support.

SAINTS: Chloe Barrett; Katia Knechtel, Amy Brittan, Naomi Andrews, Hannah Longley; Hannah Craig, Charlie Mackee; Nicky Marlow, Lucy Malone, Zena Colville; Sophie Holt, Alex Parker; Abby Johnson, Sarah Collins (c), Colette Baker. Subs: Jodie Chidlow, Elisa De Sousa, Roberta Panariello. Coach: James Greenwood.

Match report by Jamie Spoor

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