The Slingbacks 1s started their league season with a hard fought win at The Rock on Sunday. The 1sts, lead by captain Katharine Landells, took control of the game within the first 5 minutes, full back Jen Searle brought down within metres of the try line.

The Slingbacks were unable to make their sustained pressure count, and eventually Saints were first on the board with a breakaway try 30 minutes in. Park looked a more determined side in the second half, resulting in a penalty within minutes of the restart. With time ticking away, Liz Delves, Anna Wood and Tara Dunn were brought on to add fresh legs to the pack, and despite admirable defence from OAs; Park scored through no. 8 Jo Phillips driving a scrum over the OAs line. Spirited defending for the last 4 minutes saw Park hold onto their slim lead.

Coach Matt Mandelbaum commented: “The OA Saints proved worthy opponents and much credit must be given to their spirited defending throughout the match. However we made the game hard for ourselves and should have really turned the significant advantage we had in possession and territory into a more convincing win than this. At the end of the day though the girls stuck to the game plan, never let their heads drop and snatched the win back from the jaws of defeat. This shows how far we have come in the last 12 months as last season we would have retreated into our shells and accepted the bonus point rather than fighting for the full four points. This has given us a platform to build on now and we are looking forward to travelling to Alton next week with the knowledge we still have a lot more to give”. Player of the Day went to Landells, who consistently disrupted the OAs scrum half at the back of the scrum.

RPFC Slingbacks Too 10 – Sutton & Epsom 17
The Slingbacks Toos entered their 2nd league fixture looking to build on the back of their convincing win last week. Playing in Richmond Park they welcomed Sutton & Epsom. The first half was fairly even, but S&E made their pressure count putting 2 scores on the board. The Toos fought back in the second half and were the first to score through Centre Lindsey Hull. Sutton extended their lead scoring and converting from an interception before Helen Flower made a run up field and held up 5 metres from the line, showing her experience, popped off to Charlotte Gilbert who added the points. The Toos piled on the pressure and were unlucky not to come away with at least a draw when they had a try held up in the last 5 minutes.

Acting Coach Camilla Brueton commented “The Slingbacks Toos have begun to gel as a team and be a side to be reckoned with. Working well as a unit, the forwards took the game to Sutton and Epsom. Committed and passionate, the team as a whole worked hard to gain the majority of possession and territory, fighting till the final whistle to try and convert this into points”. Player of the Day went to full back Tanya Chainey who made several try-saving tackles.


Slingbacks 1s Scorers
Andersson-Hall (p)
Phillips (t)
Slingbacks Toos Scorers
Hull (t)
Gilbert (t)