Hall make magnificant sevens
Jane Bass
OVER 140 college women's rugby players were involved in the highly successful and enjoyable one-day sevens Cuppers tournament on Sunday. This was the second time that the Michaelmas competition has taken place on only one day at the end of term, after increasing concerns over the last few years about the safety of new players to the game. Certainly, six weeks of intensive training and friendly matches in preparation for the competition paid off for all twelve teams, who demonstrated a very high standard of play. It was highly commendable that many teams consisted of several new players.
The day started at 10am with a pool competition, consisting of four pools of three teams in each; the winners of each pool going through to the Cup competition and those in second place going through to the Plate competition. LMH, Teddy Hall and St Annes/Johns progressed easily into the cup competition after two clear wins, whereas Osler-Green only just fought off Christ Church in their second pool match to qualify. As more games were played throughout the day, the standard of play increased dramatically, with extremely impressive levels of play particularly in the Plate and Cup finals.
Hertford, captained enthusiastically by Roberta Dionello and Elizabeth Bishop, put out an extremely strong and determined side for the plate final against Keble. If anything the latter side, led by Claire Linney, were probably the favourites for the match, possessing several well-built and drilled Americans who made a great impact in their early matches. However, Hertford's solid defence and dynamic attacks were too much for Keble. The only score in the first half came from a ruck in the centre secured by Charlie Livingstone, from which a great break was made by Claire Watkinson. Keble fought back early in the second half with an impressive try by their prop, but another try by Hertford gave them the match, making them the Plate champions. The player of the match was deservedly Claire Watkinson, new to the game at the beginning of this term.
The Cup final between Teddy Hall and St. Anne's/John's was always going to be close, especially because both were Cuppers champions in last year's two competitions. Both teams went into the game confidently, making it a fast and enjoyable match to watch. St. Anne's/John's, captained by Clare Gregor, perhaps looked slightly stronger in the first half with a great balance between forwards and backs linked by scrum half Emma Livingstone-Jones. However, all attempts to score by both sides in the first half came to nothing, leaving everyone on edge at half time.
A great tackle made by Kim Douglas in the third minute of the second half prevented the first potential score of the match by Blues player Livingstone-Jones, just five metres from the try line. Just when all spectators imagined the final progressing into sudden-death extra time, a breakaway try in the sixth minute was scored by Teddy Hall's new but highly skilled winger Becky Streatfeild. With only one minute remaining in the match, St. Anne's/John's were unable to equalise the score, making Teddy Hall this term's Cuppers champions.
18th Nov 1999