All Whites women romp to third consecutive victory

NEWTON Abbot RFC women delivered a “brilliant” performance to make it three wins from three to start the campaign.

They welcomed a depleted Kingsbridge side to Rackerhayes on Sunday, November 1, and head coach Luke Richardson noted that “The girls never let that deter them from how we wanted to play” on the way to an emphatic 64-10 victory.

The All Whites were at it from the off and with some strong running, winger Izzy Parks was the first to cross, Katie Burtwell adding the conversion.

Scrum-half Tara Sercombe dotted down next after great work from Rhianna Everson, both at the lineout and then driving forward with ball in hand.

Superb speed from Lucy Jenkin saw the fullback run in a third and then Everson grabbed her deserved try, powering over from a tap-penalty.

With Burtwell slotting three of the four kicks, the All Whites took a 26-0 lead into the break although it could have been more were it not for resolute defending from their visitors.

Newton picked up where they left off and it was Dani Pritchard’s turn to get on the scoresheet.

Credit to Kingsbridge who kept going and they hit back with perhaps the try of the day. The experienced Hayley Hopkins gathered possession from well within her own half and set off around and then behind the home defence to score in the corner.

Anything you can do, I can do better was the message from Newton.

First Gee Dolan caught a kick and went it alone from 40 metres give or take and then fresh off of the bench, Zara Butt shrugged off one tackle, punched a hole through and raced over from 60-70 metres out.

Kings were taking a battering but still had the fight to score a second try, Maddie Grant showing fleet of foot and then forcing over the white line.

Whilst Newton had a handful of subs they could send on, Kingsbridge travelled with a bare side and both teams even had to drop a player when one was injured.

This numerical difference was telling as a trio of replacements helped the hosts run up the score.

Grace Eckford evaded two tacklers to dot down under the posts, Butt went on a phenomenally mazy run to weave in and out of the fatigued defence and then Emily Nott scored the final points with a great big smile on her face.

Butt took over the kicking duties from Burtwell and between them, they added seven conversions to push Newton’s final points tally to 64.

Hanna Cunningham may not have scored but it was a 50th cap for the skipper who put in a determined performance all the same.

Richardson was “dead chuffed” with the performance and noted that: “To be three from three to start the season, in comparison to where we were this time last year, is unbelievable.”

The weekend prior, in torrid conditions, they “did a job mostly with [their] forwards against Devonport and then today, it was and dry under-foot and the scoreline reflects that, using the backs a lot more.”

He continued: “What’s more impressive is our efforts to keep them to 10. We pride ourselves on our defence and keeping them down, knowing their backline, is a massive achievement.”

This sensational start has potentially shifted the team’s goals in Richardson’s eyes: “We are now looking to push for that top spot and I think, by right, we can have that aspiration.”

Next up, they’re “looking forward to the challenge” of visiting title contenders Truro (on Sunday, November 8) for their “biggest test so far” to kickstart a “busy November.”