Chelmsford Ladies 45-38 Eton Manor Women

The Bluebirds hosted Eton Manor Women for their final home game of the season in blustery but bright conditions. Despite missing a number of players through injury and absence, the Bluebirds started strongly up the hill against a fast, attacking Eton Manor side. Despite some good early defence by the ladies in pink, Eton Manor chalked up 2 early scores for a 14-0 lead. A couple of early enforced changes meant the Bluebirds had to regroup and continue to defend as another 2 tries through some decent attacking play by the Eton Manor backs increased their lead to 24-0. Not to be outdone, the Bluebirds who were playing some good rugby themselves with little reward notched up their first try of the day on the stroke of half time with Ellie Lawther dotting down and vice-captain Jess Matthews add ing the extras. HT Chelmsford Ladies 7-24 Eton Manor.

With Eton Manor now facing the hill, they hit straight back at the start of the second half to go over the Chelmsford line again to add a 5th try, duly converted to give them a fairly daunting 31-7 lead. However, the Bluebirds were undeterred, and staged what can be considered a remarkable 2nd half performance, led from the front by captain Ella Alderton. Jess Matthews broke through and added the Bluebirds 2nd try, converting to reduce the deficit to 14-31. The bluebirds then continued to push and after some dominant carries through the forwards the ball then worked through the backs from one side of the pitch to the other for Chloe Hockey to touch down in the corner. Bluebirds 19-31 Eton Manor. Not to be outdone, the forwards got in on the act as Victoria Boyd wriggled over to add Chelmsfords 4th try for the bonus point and bring the score to 26-31 with Jess Matthews again adding the extras. Game on!

However, not to be outdone, Eton Manor who were themselves playing some excellent rugby, broke through the Chelmsford defence to score under the posts allowing the kicker to add the conversion to give themselves some breathing space and take the score out to 26-38 - surely that would take the wind out of the Bluebirds sails? No chance!!!

With the clock ticking the Bluebirds staged the final act in their comeback with their sniping scrum half Ellie Lawther who was having an outstanding game going under the posts for her second and Chelmsford's 5th, converted again by Jess Matthews to reduce the gap to 33-38. With a new found belief, the Bluebirds stuck to their game plan and with under 10 minutes left the pressure finally told on Eton Manor and Lillie Barnett went over for the Bluebirds 6th try to level the score. With Jess Matthews unable to add the extras from a tricky angle in the blustery wind, it left the scores level with only a couple of minutes to go.

From the restart Chelmsford pressed again and through some deft box-kicking from Ellie Lawther pushed Eton Manor back into their 22 where they conceded a scrum. However as the penalty went against the Bluebirds, the Eton Manor fly half, in trying a quick tap and go, knocked the ball on to give the Bluebirds a chance of what 39 minutes earlier had looked like an improbable victory. With the Chelmsford pack fairly dominant much of the game, they secured the ball and with some deft footwork, Ellie Lawther stepped a couple of tackles to dot down under the post for her hat-trick with the last play and with Jess Matthews adding the conversion the final whistle sounded for a remarkable bonus point 45-38 comeback win for the Bluebirds.

All credit and thanks to an excellent Eton Manor Womens side and thanks to them, the coaches and supporters from both sides for what was one of the most enjoyable games of the season to watch.

Final Score: Chelmsford Ladies 45-38 Eton Manor Women
Tries: Ellie Lawther (3), Jess Matthews, Chloe Hockey, Victoria Boyd, Lillie Barnett
Conv: Jess Matthews (5)

Photo Credit: Brian Purdy