This match against the Champions-elect would have been tough enough had the Slingbacks been able to field their strongest team. With no fewer than fourteen players unavailable, including several of the most experienced, it was really a case of Mission Impossible.

With the Park girls unable to field a proper front row the match was played with uncontested scrums from the start, a small crumb of comfort for winger Sam Emery, pressed into service behind the scrum as neither specialist scrum half was available either!

Despite the unequal struggle the Slingbacks gave everything and held Welsh for long periods, despite losing Cat – one of the few specialist forwards – to an early injury. But despite some neat approach work they were unable to really make much headway deep into Welsh territory but some determined runs, particularly from Amanda Burton picking up the ball and attacking from the back of the scrum, kept their opponents busy.

The Slingbacks’ tackling was superb, as it needed to be, but centre Alice Lovett still had to employ her prodigious kicking skills probably more than she would have wished simply to relieve the pressure.


Rosslyn Park defend against a London Welsh attack

The spirited Park girls pretty much held Welsh for the first half hour, restricting them to a single try – a breakaway from their speedy right winger. But then three quick-fire tries just before the interval left Park with a 20-0 deficit and a mountain to climb – especially with Amanda also succumbing to an injury.

The Slingbacks battled on. The forwards continued to put in some telling tackles and fly half Shanice Williams tried to find some space for her backs but it was an uphill struggle. Full back Anja Grant had to make some good last-ditch tackles against some considerably heavier opponents, and her deceptive pace running out of defence with ball in hand was one of the few real weapons the Slingbacks could deploy.

Four more unanswered tries extended the Welsh lead to 42-0 as the match entered its final minutes. Skipper Hannah Boardman called for one last big effort from her beleaguered troops and for a few minutes the Slingbacks rose to the task and besieged the Welsh line looking for the consolation try their efforts richly deserved. Welsh defended superbly, and once they got hands on the ball made two quick passes and sprinted the length of the field to score. It just about summed up the Slingbacks’ afternoon.

The problem was not those who played – who gave everything – but those who couldn’t.

Next Sunday the Slingbacks will be hoping for the return of some players when they play Berkshire side Crowthorne at home, kicking off at 2:30. Admission is free.


Charlie Addiman

March 12, 2018