Plucky Warriors hold off the colonial challenge!

Warriors welcomed Canadian side, I.E. Weldon Wildcats to Hobbs Way on Good Friday, much depleted by injuries and holidays, so much so that Warriors took the field with a bare 15 players! The Canadians were on a short tour of Hertfordshire. They had narrowly lost to Lethworth/Sudbury but beaten Aylesbury and a Barbarians side. On a hot sunny day, Warriors took an early lead after skipper Hannah Gallagher beat 3 players to score under the posts. Warriors were on top at this point and when Frankie Dawson scored a second, things looked settled. The Wildcats had other ideas and soon both sides were playing flat out rugby but with the Wildcats having the benefit of always having fresh legs! Canuck skipper Corie Lewis led from the front and made & took some huge tackles as Weldon clawed their back into the game, Callie Evans also playing a fine match for the visitors, made it 14-5.

Winger, Charisse Fallon then scored the try of the match, running over half the pitch, evading 3 Canadians as she made it 19-5. No mistakes with the conversion from Hannah Gallagher again made Warriors look in control but again Weldon fought back. The tackles got even harder. Just before half time Frankie Dawson was helped from the field with concussion. Down to 14 and having to re-organise their pack, Warriors looked disjointed and were clinging on. Weldon scored again to make it 24-10. Warriors, starting the second half with just 14 saw the Wildcats sniff their chance. Clever kicking by Robin Callaghan & Lewis was tiring the Warriors out. Weldon scored the inevitable try in the corner. A fantastic effort by Alex Robertson to tackle the Wildcat try scorer, resulted in a nasty injury and the game stopped while an ambulance was called.

After a lengthy delay, the game moved to another pitch. Down to 13, the weary Warriors were put under constant pressure by the Canadians, now showing how good they can be. Fantastic tackles by the 13 Warriors were only delaying the inevitable and another Weldon try made the score 24-20. Weldon’s Lock, Autumn Beth was outstanding and won the ‘man of the match’ award.

At this point 2 of Warriors U14s, who were spectating pleaded to go on and help their weary U17 team mates. After a discussion between the coaches and the referee, it was agreed the girls could play. The heroes of the hour were Sam Voyle and Abi Lee, with some help from Club member, Sue Topham, who opened the club shop to kit the girls out with shorts, mouthguards etc!!

The psychological boost of being on parity lifted Warriors and Hannah Gallagher and Charisse Fallon again linked to score the final try, which Gallagher converted to make the 31-20 with only 2 minutes to go. Weldon still kept the pressure up but Warriors now knew they would hold on and the there were some very weary bodies as referee Paul Freestone blew the final whistle. It really has been a ‘Long Good Friday’ for the Warriors!

It was a fantastic effort from the Welwyn girls, total effort for a full match against some very talented Canadians! Weldon went on to beat Hertford 5-7 on the Saturday but the effort of the previous day was clear as it was a very much weary looking pack of Wildcats that took the field at Hertford.

24 Canadians in the tour party, 3 matches in 4 days. Hopefully some happy memories going back home with the cuts and brusies. Spare a thought though for Weldon prop, Bailey Jeffries, she damaged her shoulder early on in the first match and that was her tour over and winger Tara Finney, who kept her position on the wing all tour, waiting for that pass that never came! Weldon used the tour to warm for the Canadian championship play offs and their Coach Kirk Wilson the tour had achieved that!

The Final Whistle Line out action