Women's Dev XV Work Hard for Win

The Royals Navy's Women's Development squad faced off against a newly formed Millbrook RFC in a thrilling encounter that kept spectators excited. The game was marked as an intense competition, with both teams displaying exceptional skill, determination and pure physicality.

The first half saw Millbrook take an early lead resulting from errors by the Navy deep in their own 22. However, the Navy remained resilient and responded by storming up the pitch and keeping the ball alive. Unfortunately, it was one too many off oads as they lost the ball 5 metres out. The defensive Navy scrum proved to be solid as Millbrook tried to clear their lines; the Navy were quickly on the attack again. An early injury saw centre Moira Douglass take to the pitch producing some dominating carries.

A Naval scrum was awarded following Millbrook errors on the 5 metre line.  Laika Swain gathered the ball from the base and crashed across the line. A try was awarded and converted by Fly Half, Hannah Parkinson.

The clash of heads between two Navy players lead to them being taken off as a precaution and replaced with debutant, Beth Lewington who came off the bench early replacing Hannah Underwood at second row. This shift in momentum saw Millbrook back in the Navy 22 who became slow to fold in defence, leading to Millbrook eventually capitalising, and scoring a try.

Again the Navy were quick to hit back with a moment of individual brilliance from Olly Fifita, who ran the ball from the half way line, danced her way between defenders and made her way over the whitewash following a hand off to Millbrook's last defender.

Just before the half time whistle, Millbrook led 17-12, setting the stage for a nail-biting second half.

The second half was a fierce battle, with both teams exchanging blows. The Navy built phases but couldn't initially get through the oppositions defence; however, in classic scrum half style, Sophie Tullock sniped, getting around the defence to bring the Navy level. The dog fight between both teams continued. As the clock wound down it looked like the game would finish with the honours even.  In the last play of the game, Tee Touou marked her debut game by adding her name to the score board. With Hannah Parkinson's conversion, this was a successful first game of the season for the Navy Women, final score being 24 - 17.

Captain Josie Parnaby said, “Tonight's game saw us take away an incredibly hard earned win which I know will give us the momentum for the rest of the season. Millbrook were a physical side but that allowed us to identify areas of improvement which I’m excited to see us work on coming into our next fixture.”

Women's Dev XV: L Swain, E Thorpe, A Baker; H Underwood, O Fifita; J Bains, J Burnaby (C), J Bryan; S Tullock, H Parkinson, K Sutherland, E Birch, B Wilcox, E Turnham, S Hill.

Replacements: T Touou, S Kelly, B Lewington, S McGlaughlin, M Douglass.

Words by Y Mealy

Images by Cinnabar Studios