Navy Denied as Worthing Strikes Late to Equalise

A thrilling night of rugby was to commence under the crystal-clear winter skies above the Rugby Park, home of Worthing RFC. The well-drilled Worthing team had the advantage of a cheering, home-made placard waving crowd on the touchline. But Navy Rugby turned-up and from the referee’s first whistle their spirit and flare was on display for all to see.

Worthing kicked off and Ellie Brightwell safely received a low tumbling ball, a Worthing infringement led to Navy Rugby kicking to touch. The first half began with Navy Rugby hemming the home side in their own half and this was to continue for much of the next forty minutes. Beth Lewington made a hurtling run breaking through several tackles to reach Worthing’s 22 – an early indicator of the building of Navy Rugby’s domination which would characterise the first half.

Worthing’s defence was tested while camped out on their 10m line for several minutes, again having to dig deep to stop an onslaught from Navy Rugby’s pack moving through the phases – Lucy Honeybell passing adeptly to Thalia Haywood and on to the marauding Lewington. Both sides seemed to prefer the tap and go after a series of infringements. Notably Rose Dixon sliced through the flat back line of the tested Worthing side.

After 10 minutes Navy Rugby was becoming a permanent fixture in their opponent’s half and set for the first scrum of the game. Worthing not able to stay straight in response to a huge shove from the Navy. Again, a quick tap and the evening’s excitement continued, Jaz Abel flighting a perfect pass into the hands of Olivia Cunningham who was only stopped by a crunching tackle on her way to the corner. With McKenzie Parsons on for Cunningham the confrontation restarted with the first line-out concluding with the ball dropped into the visitors’ hands. From the melee Jess Bryan bulldozed through and over the line for her first try of the game which she went on to convert.

After the Worthing restart, Lewington again made a darting run back into the home-side’s half, this time linking up with the backline and the phase culminated with a stunning reverse pass from Dixon to Caitlin Render who crashed through a wobbly Worthing defence. The eloquence continued when Brightwell sold a dummy much to the delight of Navy Rugby’s supporters.

The infrequent forays that Worthing were able to make into the visitor’s half were repelled unequivocally and more than once Abel closed the door with a eye-watering tackle.

Twenty minutes gone and a Navy Rugby scrum on their opponent’s 22 resulted in the ball being carried across the game line by Abi Ashby and ultimately back to Hayward who no one was stopping as she grounded the ball between the posts for Navy Rugby’s second try, converted by Jess Bryan.

Worthing’s woes continued immediately after the restart when the ball dropped into the hands of Bryan who made a 10-metre gain in the blink of an eye. Navy Rugby domination of the first half was reaching a crescendo when a Worthing scrum was put into reverse. The home side attempted a grubber kick and made an unusual entry up to the visitor’s 22 but only to be stopped unceremoniously by the industrial strength tackling of an all-in Navy Rugby side. Brightwell made an impactful run and gained 25 metres or more followed by a Navy Rugby line-out precisely thrown in Baddis, once again enabling Lewington to make headway with a charging run up the field. A side-step from Dixon linking up with Haywood resulted in the ball reaching Bryan who was unstoppable as she scored her second try which she again converted.

Worthing kicked the game off again from the centre spot straight into the hands of Jess Shaw and the visitor’s pack continued to ride rough-shod in the loose. But Worthing were not done, they began their fight-back with their best opportunity of the match so far coming from a Navy Rugby scrum on the visitors’ 22 which resulted in a penalty taken quickly by the home side. An unconverted try followed, and Worthing had their first points.

A thumping tackle Honeybell stopped Worthing in its tracks soon after the restart and the domination of the visitors was restored. A Worthing scrum on their own 22 misfired and the muscle of Navy Rugby paid dividends when Parnaby collected the ball and spiralled across the line to score the visitors’ fourth try which was not converted.

A thrilling display in the first half: 26 – 5

Worthing came back from the break determined to turn the game around and within minutes of Navy Rugby restarting the game scored their second try under the posts which was converted. Undeterred Navy Rugby continued to find a way through and having plucked the ball from a rare high ball kick, Abel made a startling dash back to Worthing’s 22. A series of scrums followed, and the game oscillated either side of the half-way line. Navy Rugby defensive prowess was tested - an experience no doubt useful for the rest of the season. A revitalised Worthing intent on reversing their fortunes continued to bang on the visitors’ door and were rewarded with a scrum and then a converted try under the posts.

As the game reached the final ten minutes the score was 26 – 19, the excitement and the tension infected everyone watching on from the touchline. Could Navy Rugby hold on or would the home side’s pride and tenacity win the upper the hand? The referee signalled only 5 minutes remained and Navy Rugby looked to be in control with a scrum on Worthing’s 22, but the crowd gasped as the ball came into the hands of a yellow jerseyed wing with a phenomenal turn of speed and an unstoppable solo try to bring the game to its final moment of drama – Worthing’s conversion kick. The home supporters erupted as the ball made its way through the posts, celebrating the draw.

FT 26 - 26

Senior Women: L Honeywell, R Addis, ⁠J Bryan (VC), ⁠B Lewington, ⁠T Haywood; ⁠E Brightwell, ⁠J Shaw, ⁠L Swain; ⁠J Parnaby, ⁠R Dixon (C), ⁠O Cunningham, ⁠C Render, ⁠A Ashby, ⁠L Ashley, ⁠J Abel.

Replacements: K Bark, ⁠E Thorpe, ⁠E Bythell, ⁠E Hart, ⁠H Parkinson, ⁠J Banks, ⁠S Tulloch, ⁠M Parsons, ⁠M Douglass.

Words by J Wheale

Images by Cinnabar Studios