Blues Ladies finally break their duck

Haverfordwest Ladies 46 - Ynysddu Ladies 22

A hat-trick of tries from Nina Colville helped Haverfordwest Ladies to their first Division One win of the season against relegation rivals Ynysddu on Sunday.

The Blues have struggled so far this campaign with injuries to key players and the loss of their captain through international duty but with the New Year came fresh motivation and they were able to field a strong side with the luxury of three substitutes, but as the Gwent girls only travelled with 12 players, Haverfordwest were forced to match numbers.

Coleman and Starr-Palmer start the try scoring

Centre Colville settled nerves with an early opener, with fly-half Holly Couzens converting, before full-back Amber Starr-Palmer, recently selected for the Army ladies team, doubled the lead.

Ynysddu were then dealt a blow when they lost a player through injury before Colville added her second on the overlap as Haverfordwest dominated the opening 30 minutes, with scrum-half Delyth Foster taking advantage of the blindside of the scrum to secure an early bonus point.

With captain Awen Prysor forced off with a blood injury, a lapse in concentration from the home side allowed Ynysddu’s Kim Bowler over in the corner to make the half time score 24-5.

Ynysddu fight back for bonus point – but Blues bounce back

To their credit Ynysddu came out fighting in the second half and scored three quick tries through Steph Feeney, former Haverfordwest player Lucy French and Francesca Hyde to secure themselves a bonus point and bring the scores to 24-22.

But the Blues weathered the storm and the experience of Colville shone through as she bagged yet another career hat-trick. Second-row Jana Neumann powered over in the corner soon after, showing the potential of her Wales international sister Lisa.

Strong finish from the home side

Centre Prysor, fresh from representing Wales in the Dubai Sevens tournament, added her name to the scoresheet with a dazzling run from inside her own half, with Couzens adding the extras.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips ran in the game’s final try from the wing after an excellent offload from Emily Carrington, and in the absence of Couzens converted her own effort.

Haverfordwest are still bottom of the table, but will be hoping to carry their current form into the next game against top of the table Bonymaen on 27^th January.

Haverfordwest Ladies: Amber Starr-Palmer, Evelyn Coleman, Ceri Coleman-Phillips, Hayley McCarney, Awen Prysor, Nina Colville, Holly Couzens, Delyth Foster, Sarah Lawrence, Hayley May Thomas, Natasha Thomas, Jess Durham, Jana Neumann, Alison Hopson-Griffiths, Emily Carrington.


 

PHOTOS:
Jana Neumann scores for Haverfordwest
Delyth Forster also scores
Nina Colville en route to another hat-trick