By Ian Lodge
Thurrock RFC 65 Thanet Wanderers Ladies 1st XV 10
Faversham RUFC 20 Thanet Wanderers Ladies 2nd XV 35
Thanet Wanderers ladies returned to action after a week off with two games on the bill. The 1st XV travelled to the high flying Thurrock RFC over the bridge into Essex whilst the 2nd XV has the relatively short trip up the road at Faversham RFC.
The 1st XV were expecting a tough encounter but nowhere near as the one they faced. A well drilled, experienced and pacey Thurrock XV came away with a convincing 65-10 win with an early try from player of the match, Milly Thurman-Newell followed up another good team try from skipper, Gee Cordell. Alex White at fly half was the back of the match and controlled her team admirably in the face of adversity.
But the experience, continuity and running lines of the Thurrock side won the spoils easily showing that whilst the last 18 months have been amazing for Thanet, it has only been 18 months. The team will learn from defeat and come back stronger next week when they travel to Beckenham RFC in the 3rd round of the Junior Cup.
Meanwhile at Faversham the 2nd XV played a controlled game and exploited the gaps in the home team’s defence. Centres Megan Bish and Australian Kat Stuart scored 4 and 3 tries respectively whilst fellow Australian and debutant Emily Williams grabbed the player of the match award in a 35-20 victory.
You will have to wait a while to see the ladies teams in action as all fixtures throughout the rest of 2023 are away from home. But starting in January 2024, most of our games will be at St. Peter’s Recreation Ground in Broadstairs.
If you are interested in trying out women’s rugby, one of the fastest growing sports in the UK check out the website at www.thanetwanderers.co.uk/ladies which has details of all training sessions and matches as well as who to get in touch with.