THAMESIANS WOMEN defied Storm Darragh, freezing rain and two yellow cards to clinch a thrilling victory in this top-of-the-table clash at Eton Manor.
Playing with the wind in the first half, the odds were firmly in favour of the home side as Ts turned to face the storm, with the score locked at 10-10.
Reduced to 14 players by those two sin-bins for 20 minutes of the second half, Thamesians simply refused to lose, combining brilliant defence with equally brave attacking play.
Unable to cross the line, Eton Manor eventually kicked a penalty that could have settled the outcome.
But Ts were not done, and a searing break down the left wing by Amanda Neivens was finished off by Emily Powell, who crashed over beneath the posts for Amber Sheppard to convert.
Amber had scored one of Ts first-half tries, winning the race to touch down her own kick ahead. Sydney Hayden-Fry opened the scoring, forcing her way over on the blindside of an attacking scrum after neat work by her captain, Emelia Arbouine.
With 15 minutes remaining, and no sign of the storm abating, Eton Manor kept coming. But a turnover turned into a superb counter-attack for Ts backs to move the ball left to Amanda Neivens. Playing only her second game for the club, Amanda showed her power and pace to race half the length of the pitch for a superb try.
A constant danger with ball in hand, Eton Manor also had plenty of pace and power and they took the game to the wire by scoring a deserved late try, but Ts rode out the storm to emerge as worthy winners.
Thamesians: Hannah Jacques; Izzy Baker, Rosie Cairns, Sydney Hayden-Fry, Poppy Knight (Amanda Neivens); Amber Sheppard, Emelia Arbouine (Aiobhin O’Connor); Aminah Olaniyan, Stefania Randazzo, Amber Attack, Chloe Nash, Penelope Procter, Amy Healey (Kia Hayman), Courteney Ellis, Emily Powell.
