UWIC 22 Northumbria University 20 (BUSA Women’s Championship Final)
Northumbria University had spent most of the second half of a see-saw match on the back foot and were one player short with flanker Kate Hall in the sin bin when the climactic scrum was set on their line.
The UWIC scrum had earlier shown their prowess by creating a pushover try for their No 8 and captain, Helen Amos, in added time at the end of the first half.
And referee Steve Walter judged that a single collapse of the front rows in the final set-to was enough to merit the penalty try which broke Northumbria’s stout resistance.
It was a sixth final for Amos, in her final year studying a masters in sports coaching, and her third success as captain.
“I’m from Northampton and half the squad are English but there’s no doubt the Welsh girls love winning at the home of English rugby,” said Amos.
“For all of us the BUSA final is the focal point of the season and there were tears at the final whistle.
“We couldn’t believe it when the penalty try was given. We just relied on our front row, our scrum and line-out had been awesome all the way through. The referee must have been pretty sure we were going to score and given us the benefit of the doubt.”
Amos and her team had refused a possible penalty kick at goal which might have forced extra time when they were trailing 20-17 and the minutes were ticking away. “We came here to win and we weren’t interested in a draw,” said Amos, whose side are unbeaten this season in 12 university league and cup matches, as well as winning their division of the Welsh League and reaching next week’s Welsh Cup final.
Northumbria tackled superbly all match and for long spells they held the lead even if UWIC had the lion’s share of possession.
The first of two tries by full back Renee Wickliffe put Northumbria in front after seven minutes. Wickliffe joined the threequarter line after UWIC were turned over and a couple of sweet sidesteps of her left foot took her under the posts.
Fly half La Toya Mason converted but UWIC levelled when centre Ceri Redman crashed through two tackles from a line-out close to the Northumbria line and Aimee Young converted. The score cost Redman a twisted knee and she watched the rest of the match on crutches.
Mason’s penalty made it 10-7 to Northumbria after 20 minutes then hooker Fi Faamausili scored from a line-out drive.
Young missed a penalty in front of the posts for UWIC but converted safely after Amos’s try from the base four minutes into time added on at the end of the first half.
Wickliffe’s running continued to impress but UWIC’s pressure told when Northumbria’s centres failed to roll away from a tackle and Young made it 17-15 to the Cardiff-based side.
Wickliffe had other ideas, finishing off a well worked try at the left corner after the Northumbria forwards had a couple of pick and go drives then Mason and Vaniya Lavea spun long passes wide to their full back.
Hall put in a magnificent try-saving tackle on wing Lydia Alesbrook-Bowen before being shown the yellow card for killing the ball, which made her a frustrated spectator as UWIC earned their late, late reward.
UWIC: A Young; L Alesbrook-Bowen, H Stephens, C Redman, A Milton; M Youden, A Day; K Rowlands, S Davies, H Roberts, H Torangi, S George, C John, C Thompson, H Amos (capt).
Replacements: L Newton for Redman (15), C Lodge for Davies (45), D Scott for Rowlands (67), S Barr for Milton (53), C Powell for John (53), B Picton for Newton (75). S Knighton unused.
Scorers: tries: Redman, Amos, penalty try; cons: Young 2; pen: Young.
Northumbria University: R Wickliffe; H Blevins, V Lavea, H Sherlock, R Mowbray; L Mason, A Mowbray (capt); S McHugh, F Faamausili, K Wallis, J Wade, L Leonard, L Smith, K Hall, L Wheeler.
Replacements: L Gorley for Smith (53), L Kidd for Blevins (53), E Thorpe Jones for McHugh (h-t), E Jackson for Wade (h-t), Smith for Leonard (81-83). Z Tickner, C McGlinchey, E Cheshire unused.
Scorers: tries: Wickliffe 2, Faamausili; con: Mason; pen: Mason.
Referee: S Walters (RFU).
