TWRUFC Ladies 1st XV 35 vs Beckenham 5

9th Feb 2025, KO 14:00

Beckenham - Home

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Match Report

Photos: Ade Davies

A crisp day at Thanet saw the Ladies 1st XV take on Beckenham Ladies 2nd XV in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The home side, donning their pink away kit, were welcomed onto the field by a guard of honour from the Under-11s, whose cheers set the tone for a spirited encounter. Despite the claggy conditions, which led to a few handling errors, Thanet delivered a dominant performance built on teamwork, resilience, and relentless pressure.

Beckenham kicked off and immediately looked to attack, but Thanet’s defence set the tone early, with Lia Armstrong putting in a strong tackle to halt their progress. A penalty in Thanet’s favour allowed Jess Anderson to collect the kick on the wing, and from there, the home side-built momentum. Lia Armstrong and Georgia Elks both made crucial tackles as Beckenham tried to cut back inside, but it was Thanet who gained the upper hand when Captain Gee Cordell broke through and made significant ground.

A high tackle penalty saw Thanet pushing forward again. Holly Thurman-Newell powered through multiple tackles before offloading to the backs, where Jess Anderson linked up with Lia Armstrong, who in turn passed to Rachael Austerberry. Weaving through defenders, she touched down in the corner for the opening try. The conversion was missed, but Thanet were up 5-0.

Beckenham restarted, and Louise Rubens collected well before passing to Georgia Elks who carried strongly through the midfield. From there, it was moved swiftly through the backs, with Izzy Lodge taking it into contact before Gee Cordell broke a tackle and attacked down the blindside.

Rachael Austerberry was next to strike for Thanet, finishing a well-worked move on the wing after great interplay between the backs and forwards. Despite another missed conversion, the home side extended their lead to 10-0.

With the home side dominating possession, the next try came from Jess Anderson. After quick ball from the forwards, the backs linked up beautifully, she stepped inside a defender before sprinting down the wing to score. The missed conversion kept the score at 15-0.

The fourth try of the half was all about power. The forwards worked through multiple phases before Louise Rubens crashed over the line from short range, showcasing her strength. Another conversion drifted wide, but Thanet stretched their lead to 20-0.

Just before the break, Thanet struck again. After persistent infringements, the referee finally showed a yellow card to a Beckenham player, giving Thanet a penalty just outside the 22. Rachael Austerberry took a quick tap-and-go, linking up with Rebecca Hewitt, who powered through the defensive line before offloading to Neave Evans, who sealed an excellent first half with the fifth try. The conversion was missed, but Thanet held a commanding 25-0 lead at halftime.

Thanet made changes at the break, but their intensity remained high. Beckenham started with intent, earning an early penalty and kicking to touch. Their lineout was clean, and after a series of pick-and-go phases, they finally breached Thanet’s defence, scoring their only try of the match. The conversion was missed, but it was a small glimmer of hope at 25-5.

Thanet quickly responded. After winning their own lineout, the ball was worked through the hands to Kat Stuart, who recycled quickly. Georgia Elks and Izzy Lodge made good ground, and when Gee Cordell found herself in space, she stormed through the defence to touch down in the corner. The conversion was again unsuccessful, but Thanet stretched their lead to 30-5.

As the game progressed, Thanet’s defensive structure remained solid. Rebecca Hewitt and Vicky Flower put in crucial tackles, and despite Beckenham’s persistent high tackles, Thanet remained composed.

With time running down, Thanet continued to push forward. A convincing run from Amy Fowler allowed the backs to realign, with the ball then being flicked through the hands to Jess Anderson, who sidestepped through the defensive line to seal the victory with Thanet’s final try.

The final whistle confirmed a 35-5 triumph - another impressive display from Thanet, who showcased strong team cohesion and determination despite the muddy conditions.

Players of the Match