MATCH REPORTS WOMEN

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 4 YORK 54
24th April 2005(Report Jenny Johnstone)

Sheffield again with reduced numbers and players carrying injuries showed great strength in character and team spirit to put up a good performance against a strong York side. York dominated the opening 20 minutes running up an 18 points to nil lead. But Sheffield, with some good pressure and defensive sets, forced York into making errors. Sheffield capitalised and a move set up by team captain Hannah Whales, led to a good passage of play, support and passing down the line was superb, with Lorraine Clarke making the final pass to Tracy Haycox who went over for a well earned score, just before half time. Vicky Brooks, with a good attempt, was very unlucky with the conversion. At half time Sheffield had done well to be only 24 points to nil down. In the second half, injuries forced players to leave the action and reduced numbers meant it was very difficult to contend with the big York side, who went on to score a further 30 points. However Sheffield's heads never went down. Again this was an excellent team effort making it hard to pick a player of the match, but Kath de Menger kept driving and encouraging the team forward. With some powerful drives and strong tackles she deservedly took referees and players player of the match.

INCE ROSEBRIDGE 42 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 0
17th April 2005(Report Jenny Johnstone)

Sheffield, down to 10 players, put in a performance they could be proud of against a full strength Ince Rosebridge side. Sheffield showed much more enterprising play on attack than their opponents with good support play and handling. At half time Sheffield were 22 v 0 down but they kept going and Ince found it difficult to break through the middle, the majority of their tries coming from the inevitable overlaps on the wings. In the second half Sheffield continued to pressurise well and their defence forced Ince to make several mistakes. Sheffield capitalised and set up good field position to break the Ince line through Tracy Haycox but a harsh decision from the referee judged her not to have grounded the ball. It was extremely difficult to choose a player of the match with everyone having to work for each other - it was a good team effort. Referees player of the match: Lorraine Clarke

NB:-NEXT GAME @ HILLSBOROUGH ARENA : Sunday 24th April :~ SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS v YORK ~~ KO: 12.30pm

THORNHILL 36 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 42
10th April 2005(Report Jenny Johnstone)

This was a tight but entertaining attacking match. A good start by Thornhill and slack defence by Sheffield on their own line saw the away side take an early lead of 8 points to nil. But Sheffield hit back with tries through Natalie Daniels and Fran Small, levelling the match. Natalie Daniels and Lara Callery added further tries, with Natalie adding the conversions. An unstoppable drive and off load by prop forward Kath De Menger set up Vicky Brooks for her first try. The score at half time 20 v 20. In the second half some strong running from Lorraine Clarke, working well with Fran Small, set up good field position for Vicky Brooks (1) and again Natalie Daniels (2) to combine and support well to add a further three tries between them. Sheffield found it hard to shake off Thornhill and were caught off guard at times in defence, especially on their own line. However, given that this was Sheffield's first game for four weeks, and with players adjusting to new positions, it was a very deserved and well earned victory. Referees player of the match: Natalie Daniels, Players Player (Fran Small, Coaches forward and back of the match: Mary Rodgers and Hannah Whales respectively. Try scorers: Natalie Daniels (4), Vicky Brooks (2), Lara Callery (1),Fran Small (1). Conversions: Natalie Daniels (4), Vicky Brooks (1)

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOUROUGH HAWKS 16 INCE ROSEBRIDGE 26
Sunday 6th March 2005

Perfect conditions saw a very entertaining game between two equally matched sides. An excellent second half saw Sheffield go extremely close to winning this game but again it was a few errors that let Ince Rosebridge develop a good half time lead that was difficult to catch. Ince Rosebridge set up a half time lead of 20 points to nil. Sheffield rallied in the second half scoring first through Jane Swire, after she had combined well with some good work from Vicky Brooks. Vicky Brooks again left the opposition standing in her wake and with a quick play the ball gave good field position for Juliet Harrison to score a well deserved try. Jane Swire with two good goals converted both tries. The final try came from Nat Daniels scoring a typical wingers try sprinting 60 metres to score in the corner. Throughout the second half Sheffield held out against Ince Rosebridge and it was just a couple of lapses in defence that let them through to score their only try in the second half. Again this was a good committed team performance from everyone but Vicky Brooks having an inspirational and very influential game took referees player and players' player of the match. Forward of the match: Juliet Harrison who took her try well, made some good tackles and was always encouraging her teammates. Back of the match: Tracy Haycox was always encouraging everyone around her and looked as though she enjoyed every minute. Special mention should also go to Lara Callery for her commitment to the team by playing with an injury and doing so well playing out of position. Tries: Jane Swire (1), Juliet Harrison (1), Natalie Daniels (1). Conversions: Jane Swire (2).

This performance should give Sheffield confidence for their next home game against Warrington (date to be confirmed).

WARRINGTON 62 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 0

The beginning of the season was the last time these two sides met and it was a very close contest, Sheffield only just losing out in the final stages of the match. Yesterday having arrived late due to traffic delays the team had to take the field almost immediately leaving little time to adjust to the cold conditions. The score-line does not reflect the excellent team effort shown by the Sheffield side. Due to injuries Sheffield were only able to field a team of nine players against the twelve of Warrington. Scoring 4 tries within the first 20 minutes saw Warrington take a 16-point lead with no reply. However Sheffield rallied and stood up well and with some good pressure forced Warrington into making errors. Sheffield did well to hold out and go in at half time only 26 points to nil down. Whilst Sheffield did make breaks and create opportunities in the second half, inevitable tiredness set in and Warrington went on to score another 36 points. Warrington have to travel to Sheffield on 20 March for what should be a very different game.
Hawks Team : Marie Burns, Sian Sumner, Jane Swire, Fran Small, Juliet Harrison, Helen Calder, Mary Rodgers, Natalie Daniels, Tracy Haycox.

Next home game: Sunday 27th February SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS v YORK: KO 1.00pm.

Referees player of the match: Natalie Daniels. Coaches player of the match: the whole team proved their fitness levels are good and gave everything they had: Coaches forward and back of the match: Forward: Juliet Harrison, Back: Fran Small

WOMEN'S OPEN AGE CHALLENGE CUP PLATE SEMI FINAL
SUNDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2005

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 0 INCE ROSEBRIDGE 44 (REPORT J JOHNSTONE)

An early start and a lot of hard work from the Sheffield team, and a few extra helpers, went into clearing a waterlogged pitch to ensure that this cup tie could be played. A tough encounter saw the women's side go down to a strong Ince Rosebridge side. A few injuries early on caused slight disruption to the Sheffield side and Ince took advantage scoring three tries taking an 18 point lead within the first 20 minutes. Sheffield settled and fought back well with some good attacking sets on the Ince line. However Ince picked up on some unforced errors by the home side and went into a 34 points to nil half time lead. Sheffield came back well in the second half and played a much better defensive game with good tackling from Lorraine Clarke and Juliet Harrison, the team's top tacklers and Marie Burns with some good cover tackles at fullback. Sheffield were reduced to 12 players but due to excellent resilience and team spirit Ince had to work very hard for their additional 10 points in the second half. Ince now meet York in the final. Losing players to injuries meant readjusting and forcing two of our wingers to make their debuts in the second row who gave admirable performances (Sian Sumner and Adele Weston). Players player of the match Marie Burns, Referees player of the match Lorraine Clarke. Coaches forward and back of the match went to Lorraine Clarke and Hannah Whales respectively.

BARROW 34 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS WOMEN 0

After a long trip up to Barrow with an incomplete side of 10 or 11 women( the players are not sure) they played well but were reduced to 7 players during the course of the game through injury, which made the competition rather hard work. Hopefully they will be back on track with a full squad for next Sunday when they play in the Semi-Final of the Powergen Challenge Cup Plate Competition at Hillsborough Arena against Ince Rose. Kick off 1:00pm

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS WOMEN 76 PENDLE 6

An excellent and dominating team performance saw Sheffield run out convincing winners against Pendle. Pendle had no answer to some strong running by the forwards and good attacking lines from the backs. Good defensive pressure forced Pendle into making mistakes from which Sheffield capitalised. The try scoreres were Lorraine Clarke (5), Jane Swire (4), Lara Callery (1), Sarah Hewart(1), Hanah Whales (1) and Adele Weston (1) scoring her first try for the club. Jane Swire added10 conversions. It was a good team performance which made it difficult to single out any one player in particular. The Referees and Players player of the match was Jane Swire but special mention should go to Sarah Hewart who, coming back after a serious facial injury, had a strong game at centre offering good support in attacking play and making some excellent one on one tackles.

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS WOMEN 22 THORNHILL 26

After Pendle not turning up last week and the match being awarded to Hillsborough 50points to nil, and this followed their progress in the Powergen Challenge Cup Plate Competition, having now reached the Semi-finals due to their quarter final opponents, Crofton, being unable to field a team, the Hillsborough Women got back to actually playing a game of Rugby and at home.A very tough and close game saw Sheffield lose by 4 points to a committed Thornhill side. Sheffield tried hard and defended well in the first half withstanding a lot of pressure on their own line but a few defensive errors in the second half and mistakes in attack allowed Thornhill to maintain their lead. Tries by Helen Calder (2), Nat Daniels (1) and Lorraine Clarke (1) and 3 goals by Jane Swire made up the 22 points. Some strong running and good breaks by left centre Fran Small saw her take Referees player of the match and she shared the Players Player of the match with Nat Daniels who put in an excellent tackling effort in the first half and took her try well.

SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 24 BARROW 18

Hawks made a shakey start to the game but fought well to earn a very good win. Barrow took the early lead but an inspirational weaving run by full back Marie Burns provided good field position for the Hawks to score through a storming run by Natalie Daniels. A very strong last 15 minutes in the first half, with a try each from Fran Small and Lorraine Clarke, saw the Hawks take a half time lead of 16 10. This lead was always going to be a very difficult one to defend against a powerful Barrow side. Although the Hawks maintained their lead throughout the second half Barrow were never out of sight - the teams exchanging tries. The Hawks started strong in the second half, scoring first through Helen Calder. Barrow hit back to provide a tense finish but Vicky Brooks, with a good individual try, sealed the win.
Tracey Haycox and Vicky Brooks with a strong performances in both attack and defence were the players player and referees player of the match respectively.

YORK 30 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS WOMEN 16

WIth York riding high at the top of the table this was always going to be a difficult match. Sheffield started brightly and an interception and good finishing by Natalie Daniels saw Sheffield take an early lead. However York hit back very quickly and they continued to dominate the first half in what was a very fast game. A spirited fightback towards the end of the first half and beginning of the second saw Francesca Small, after some good play and strong running by Jane Swire, and Lorraine Clarke added two further tries. Lara Callery was voted referees player of the match and Hannah Whales and Natalie Daniels received, jointly, the players player of the match.