In the first game of the second half of the season, Streatham-Croydon ladies welcomed Hackney Gladies to Frant Road. The first time these two teams met, back in September, Hackney surprised Streatham with their pace and strength out wide to secure a 34-5 win. Since then, Streatham have worked on their defence and tactical game and, with the supporters out in force, were ready to take on the challenge.

The entire game was a tough battle. The winter weather has finally set in and the soft ground and slippy ball led to lots of scrums, which were going in both directions. Hackney were able to break the deadlock and go over in the corner, having moved the ball the full width of the pitch and taken advantage of disorganised defence to score an early try, that they weren't able to convert. Hackney put a great amount of pressure on the Streatham set piece, both in the scrum and the line out, and managed to retain a good amount of possession throughout. But whilst wave upon wave of attack came, the notorious Streatham defence remained solid. Hackney threatened the line on more than one occasion, including an incredible try saving tackle by Amy Allen who managed to hold up one of the previously prolific scorers over the line.

However, SCRFC didn’t let their heads go down, and managed to stay out the half - largely in continued defence - leading to a half time score of 5-0. Streatham knew that they would be able to take advantage of the situation if they were able to play in the right areas of the pitch, and using the boot of centre Jenny Frost continued to move their way into Hackney territory, capitalising on some ill-discipline by the visitors. A strike move from the backs didn’t manage to break the gain line, but the threat from the centres created space for back row and Vice-Captain Mel Laidlaw-Anderson to break a tackle to score Streatham’s only try of the game. Jenny Frost managed to convert an incredibly difficult kick, in what would prove to be the deciding points of the match.

The rest of the game saw continued attacking play from Hackney, but with incredible management of the breakdown by Dani Reynolds at scrum half and good line speed and defence, Streatham were able to see it out. One for the purists perhaps, but Streatham’s defensive reputation remains intact. Having beaten all bar one of the teams in the league, going into 2019 the ladies now need to work on getting more points on the board, as despite having won 6/8 games played so far - the second highest number in the league - they sit in 4th place due to points difference behind Hackney and Battersea Ironsides.

Next weekend (Sunday 16th December) the ladies will play their final game of 2018, in the 3rd round of the Intermediate Cup against Battersea Ironsides. 2pm kick off, Frant Road. Please do come down and support.

Forward of the match: Mel Laidlaw-Anderson
Back of the match: Dani Reynolds
Scorers: Mel Laidlaw-Anderson (1T), Jenny Frost (1C)

Photo credit: Christopher Bovell Photography