Panthers Rise to the Challenge
Consett & District Women 10 - 64 Percy Park Panthers Ladies
13-Oct-2024
On Sunday, October 13, 2024, the Panthers journeyed to Consett to face off against the Cobras. The recent rainfall had softened the pitch, creating ideal conditions for an intense rugby match, and the Panthers certainly rose to the occasion.
From the very first whistle, the Panthers were quick to assert their dominance, applying pressure right from the start. Just minutes into the contest, Captain S. Gicquel scored the opening try, expertly converted by C. Ward, setting a positive tone for the game. Consett responded with a try of their own shortly after, igniting the Panthers' determination to take control.
Captain Gicquel struck again, crossing under the posts for her second try, which set up Fly Half Ward for another successful conversion. The Panthers continued their offensive surge, with N. Wood executing a remarkable line break, sprinting the length of the field to score under the posts, followed by another conversion from Ward. L. Shanks soon mirrored Wood's impressive run, adding another try and conversion, establishing a clear pattern of dominance as the Panthers rolled on.
A quick tap and go by Scrum Half A. Hyde led to an excellent offload to C. Beaumont, who scored another try under the posts. This time, the conversion narrowly missed, hitting the posts, but the Panthers still held a commanding halftime lead of 33-5.
The second half introduced newcomer F. Rees at the 9 position for her debut match, where she settled in seamlessly. The Panthers maintained their pressure, resulting in Captain Gicquel breaking through Consett's defense once more to score the first try of the second half, converted beautifully by C. Ward.
Consett, unwilling to back down, managed to score their second try, bringing the score to 40-10. Both teams were hitting hard and showing signs of fatigue, but the Panthers found a second wind, leading to more tries. E. Barker scored a try on the wing, with a slightly challenging conversion for Ward, who handled it with ease.
Next, P. Wood showcased her speed and agility, leaping for the ball on the wing and securing another score for the Panthers. N. Wood then broke through the defense again, scoring her second try of the day with an impressive run. Finally, C. Beaumont capped off the scoring with her second try, sneaking in from behind to score under the posts, finalizing the match with a score of 64-10 in favor of the Panthers.
With strong scrums, fierce tackles, and excellent teamwork, the entire team left the pitch full of smiles. A special shout-out to Consett for an exhilarating match; it was a pleasure competing against you, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Friday Night Lights at home.
Recognition goes to our Players of the Match: Forward M. Watson, Back B. Milne, and Opposition N. Wood.
We also welcomed back Lauren Calvert to our team, and in true form, she managed to sustain an injury that left her chin bust wide open, resulting in some unfortunate stains on our new strip, much to Coach Mandy's delight. We’re all curious to see if she can remove the stains—stay tuned!