Leicester Tigers Women 2023/24 - Vicky Macqueen in 'The Magnificent Fifteen'

[Hot_Charlie]

I see the women's Allianz Cup fixture isn't included in the season ticket. I understand the club needs the extra money, but it'll be interesting to see what the attendance is.

[Darc Tiger]

Confirmed now for April 13th at 1230 vs Harlequins. £5, if you have a women's season ticket.

Followed by an away trip to Trailfinders on the 20th at 1500.

These will be during the W6N period, so it'll be an interesting test for our extended squad.

[Darc Tiger]

Friday Night lights!

Still a significant lack of men's fixtures this time of year, so I hope some of you can get down to watch what should be a cracker against Ealing tomorrow, 7pm!

STARTING XV
15 Tess Feury [9]
14 Amelia Tutt [6]
13 Meg Jones [10]
12 Claire Gallagher [4]
11 Francesca McGhie [10]
10 Natasha Jones (c) [30]
9 Amy Relf [29]
1 Leah Bartlett [10]
2 Elis Martin [10]
3 Lisa Cockburn [9]
4 Catha Jacobs [7]
5 Becky Noon [29]
6 Morgan Richardson [30]
7 Roisin McBrien [27]
8 Tahlia Brody [9]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Amy Cokayne *
17 Churchy Knight [27]
18 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [9]
19 Julia Omokhuale [3]
20 Eva Donaldson [9]
21 Zoe Warrington [19]
22 Eloise Hayward *
23 Sarah Nicholas [7]

Headline news is Amy Cokayne is finally set for her debut, after a frustrating 8 months without a game. Also primed for a debut is scrumhalf Eloise Hayward. She's already amassed a lot of top level experience at just 24, including a Wales cap and a successful stint for Leeds in Rugby League! https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/wt ... se-hayward

The backline remains unchanged again, but up front, Noon and Richardson move up from the bench in place of Omokuale and Sagapolu.

That leaves us a bit lighter up front than has been the formula in recent successes, but that may indicate that we expect quite an open game. What that does mean is there is plenty of firepower on the bench, and if we stick in the fight in the first half, we can look to put the squeeze on to close the game out.

[Hot_Charlie]

Friday Night lights!

Still a significant lack of men's fixtures this time of year, so I hope some of you can get down to watch what should be a cracker against Ealing tomorrow, 7pm!

STARTING XV
15 Tess Feury [9]
14 Amelia Tutt [6]
13 Meg Jones [10]
12 Claire Gallagher [4]
11 Francesca McGhie [10]
10 Natasha Jones (c) [30]
9 Amy Relf [29]
1 Leah Bartlett [10]
2 Elis Martin [10]
3 Lisa Cockburn [9]
4 Catha Jacobs [7]
5 Becky Noon [29]
6 Morgan Richardson [30]
7 Roisin McBrien [27]
8 Tahlia Brody [9]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Amy Cokayne *
17 Churchy Knight [27]
18 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [9]
19 Julia Omokhuale [3]
20 Eva Donaldson [9]
21 Zoe Warrington [19]
22 Eloise Hayward *
23 Sarah Nicholas [7]

Headline news is Amy Cokayne is finally set for her debut, after a frustrating 8 months without a game. Also primed for a debut is scrumhalf Eloise Hayward. She's already amassed a lot of top level experience at just 24, including a Wales cap and a successful stint for Leeds in Rugby League! https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/wt ... se-hayward

The backline remains unchanged again, but up front, Noon and Richardson move up from the bench in place of Omokuale and Sagapolu.

That leaves us a bit lighter up front than has been the formula in recent successes, but that may indicate that we expect quite an open game. What that does mean is there is plenty of firepower on the bench, and if we stick in the fight in the first half, we can look to put the squeeze on to close the game out.

Eloise Hayward seems to have been a very quick signing. I wonder if Nye is injured or has just become "less available" due to her day job?

[Hot_Charlie]

Answering my own question, Nye was warming up tonight.

[Ellie]

Does anyone know when they will announce the information about Season Tickets for the women’s team. As I’ve had a dual season ticket this year have attended about 50% of the women’s games and really enjoyed it, but have a bad feeling getting both (as no dual ST available) may be cost prohibitive next season.

[LE18]

Does anyone know when they will announce the information about Season Tickets for the women’s team. As I’ve had a dual season ticket this year have attended about 50% of the women’s games and really enjoyed it, but have a bad feeling getting both (as no dual ST available) may be cost prohibitive next season.

Yes, im sure they will lose a lot of the members now they are splitting the tickets, a lot automatically let their payment ride last year to encourage the Ladies, £3 per month was fine but Im sure they will uplift it signicantly and many of us are likely to consider declining. I hope they dont get a shock.

[Ellie]

Does anyone know when they will announce the information about Season Tickets for the women’s team. As I’ve had a dual season ticket this year have attended about 50% of the women’s games and really enjoyed it, but have a bad feeling getting both (as no dual ST available) may be cost prohibitive next season.

Yes, im sure they will lose a lot of the members now they are splitting the tickets, a lot automatically let their payment ride last year to encourage the Ladies, £3 per month was fine but Im sure they will uplift it signicantly and many of us are likely to consider declining. I hope they dont get a shock.

Agreed LE18 that along with random kick off times won’t help either.

[LE18]

Has the womens' season ticket price etc been declared yet?

[Ellie]

Has the womens' season ticket price etc been declared yet?

No - gone extremely quiet which is disappointing.

[Darc Tiger]

Has the womens' season ticket price etc been declared yet?

No - gone extremely quiet which is disappointing.

At a guess, its because they don't yet know how the season is going to be structured, with the loss of Worcester. Maybe they'll even be a late push for a 10th team. Bath, maybe?

[Darc Tiger]

Apologies for not updating the thread the last few weeks. Haven't been online as much, but we've reached the Six Nations break, so time for a little catch-up.

The Trailfinders game was a disappointment from our perspective. For whatever reason, it really wasn't happening for the team that evening. Ruined at the breakdown, outfoxed by the kicking game and generally out-muscled. Not much to shout about besides brief bursts of inspiration. Despite being well off our best, I do give the team credit to continuing to dig their heels in whilst under a lot of pressure. Ealing should really have beaten us by more than 15 points on the night, but the girls refused to roll over. I do wonder if Friday nights are not conducive for many of our relatively inexperienced squad, but particularly the part-timers.

A response was needed against Saracens. A performance of a similar nature would surely have led to a very hard day at the office. Thankfully that is what we got, despite some changes in the squad. The final score looks a bit ugly at 54-19, but the girls really took the game to Sarries, and only trailed by 2 heading into the final quarter. Then the effort did seem to take its toll, and Saracens eventually overwhelmed us to run the score up. Certainly a very credible showing for first hour, but highlights how big the step is to the next level to truly go toe-to-toe with the best.

Next up are the two cup games for 7th-9th placing, in the middle of April, which will be a good opportunity to test the wider squad and blood a few players. Meanwhile, we can enjoy the first Women's Six Nations with Tigers players. Cokayne and Jones for England. Bartlett, Martin, Cockburn, Donaldson and McGhie for Scotland. Tutt for Wales.

[Ellie]

So I thought I’d go and watch the team on Saturday and paid the extra to buy the ticket, a friend decided to come along, we thought we stay at the ground after the game and watch the RR v Scotland game, after being told that they intended to have a bar open showing the game on TV but to watch social media channels for details. Said social media did not mention anything about the game being shown on TV, a real disappointment.

Added to that still nothing about next years season ticket not even an update as to when we might find out, as a result I’ve decided I won’t be getting one, but still hope to attend the odd game throughout the season.

[Darc Tiger]

We're back at Welford Road for some cup action tomorrow, 1230 kick off!

STARTING XV
15 Amanda Swartz [10]
14 Molly Draycott [17]
13 Sarah Nicholas [9]
12 Katie Childs [24]
11 Zoë Evans [21]
10 Natasha Jones (c) [32]
9 Amy Relf [31]
1 Jade Jones [17]
2 Alana Bainbridge [12]
3 Ofure Ugiagbe [27]
4 Charlotte Fray [16]
5 Jemima Moss *
6 Morgan Richardson [32]
7 Roisin McBrien [29]
8 Becky Noon [31]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Tanya Bird [18]
17 Churchy Knight [29]
18 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele [10]
19 Julia Omokhuale [5]
20 Tahlia Brody [11]
21 Lucy Nye [20]
22 Claire Gallagher [6]
23 Tess Feury [11]

Lots of changes, and a loaded bench, sees the starting XV look pretty close to a side that would have played in the Championship last season. Will be a great yardstick for how far lots of these players have progressed. Particularly Evans, Childs and Draycott, who have been grafting in training but not really had the opportunities in the PWR yet.

There's also a debut for former Worcester and England U20 forward Jemima Moss. More EQP players have certainly been needed: https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/wtttf-jemima-moss

[Jimmy Skitz]

A tough first half saw Tigers with a lot to do in the second period but a battling display saw the side score three tries after the break in a competitive, physical Allianz Cup fixture with Harlequins.

Natasha Jones kicks us off into the cool, cloudy Leicestershire midday sky. It’s the hosts that hoard the early possession but a high-intensity Tigers press keeps them penned back into their own half, even in their own 22, for the vast majority of the first 10 minutes. This stretch of time sees Tigers with a range of opportunities but unable to convert them into points.

Amanda Swartz does well early doors, fielding a couple of difficult clearance kicks well, offloading to Jones from the first and dodging two tackles to eat up 10 metres on the second.

After a succession of tight carries, Tigers win a penalty with Amy Relf takes quickly, sprinting to the gainline before offloading to a rampaging Charlotte Fray who gets through two tackles before Ofure then a sizzling miss-pass from Swartz give Zoë Evans her first chance to run

Debutant Jemima Moss gets her first touch of the ball in a Tigers shirt and smashes through her opposite number and over the gainline to give Relf great go-forward ball as Tigers keep the pressure high.

Swartz has been everywhere thus far and the full back soars through the sky to get a touch backwards on a high bomb kick before carrying up moments later. A couple of minutes later, Becky Noon picks up and goes from the base, offloading to Relf who almost gets that final pass away to Molly Draycott but the ball just bobbles into touch.

This, in retrospect, is the turning point in the match. From this small error, Quins sieze possession and momentum and do not let go until they’ve established a significant lead.

The first two tries are mirror image scores of one another, the only key difference being the scorers; for both scores, swift hands get the ball out to the left-hand side of the pitch and with Tigers scrambling back, the ball goes back inside to the onrushing support; first it’s fullback Jade Mullen, then wing Amy Layzell securing tries.

For their third five minutes later, the back-three complete their hat-trick as wing Izzy Mayhew receives the ball right on the opposite touchline and has the gas to dive over in the corner.

Tigers have spots of positivity in here, Molly Draycott does well to carry up at pace before Charlotte Fray breaks the line to earn the side 15 metres, but these moments are few and far between as ‘Quins dominate the ball.

Ella Cromack has been exceptional at clearing the lines for Harlequins and just nullifying any sense of consistency for Leicester, meaning any turnover inside their half is instantly transferred straight back to Tigers territory.

The visitors get their fourth score after initially looking to score wide before strong defence forces them inside, wherein successive strong carries allows flanker Emily Robinson to further their lead.

Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele and Tahlia Brody have both entered the field in the first half and both show their class moments later, breaking the stubborn Harlequins defensive line with successive brutal carries but once again the ball is lost.

A critical steal at the breakdown from Fray stifles a last-minute attack from the visitors and a tough first half comes to an end.

Half time score: Leicester Tigers 0 – 26 Harlequins
Quins look to begin where they left off and press home their advantage by responding to Tigers’ initial clearance but Swartz does well to hare back to cover, make the tackle and force the ball to be spilled into touch.

Tigers make their way width-ways across the pitch, before earning a scrum penalty on their own 22 which they take full advantage of, breaking up field and making camp in Quins’ half.

Amy Relf and Tess Feury are now on either wing and Relf makes great metres on the left before a speculative kick across finds Feury who almost gets over the line, an offload intercepted but spilled into touch by the Londoners.

This opportune line-out right on the ‘Quins five metres sadly goes awry but Roisin McBrien (on her 30th appearance for the club) does well to get in the way of an attempted clearance to win the ball back and keep the pressure on.

The next five metres see Tigers throwing the kitchen sink at their opposition but just unable to breach. Feury has seen lots of the ball thus far and is always looking to make something happen. The side try all manner of kicks, runners, slick moves and plays from set pieces but for 20 minutes they just can’t get over the line.

However, Tigers are nothing if not tough and they come again here. Tahlia Brody gets over to strip the ball and allows Fray to break to halfway with ‘Quins all out attacking; with broken field ahead of her, substitute Claire Gallagher sees the opportunity.

In what is already becoming a signature move, the chip and chase is delightfully executed, the Canadian international thumping up to five metres out and collecting the ball to dive over.

With Harlequins coming from the nation’s capital they’ll be well aware of the old adage around London buses and it comes true here as Tigers get their second almost immediately afterward.

Another Canadian on from the replacements, Julia Omokhuale flies up to steal a lineout and Tigers capitalise. The ball is whipped wide before a ranging pass from Churchy Knight (also celebrating her 30th Tigers appearance) gets out to Tess Feury in space. The eagle has lots to do around 30 metres out but hits a swerving run to streak past the defending wing and ride the covering tackle from the fullback to touch down.

With rumblings of a comeback murmured around the ground, ‘Quins quash that almost instantly, with a powerful run from substitute Aseza Hele allowing the Springbok to break through a couple of tackles around 10 metres out and go over to effectively put the game to bed.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Tigers keep fighting and get their final score of the match, in classic fashion: a rolling maul.

It’s Tahlia Brody, who has been immensely physical since entering the field, who’s at the base of the set-piece which rumbles over with aplomb to give Leicester shoots of positives to take from a tough encounter.

In fact, with the time almost up, Feury almost gets another after Brody picks and goes from a midfield scrum, hands the ball out the back to Lucy Nye who fizzes a flat pass to Feury in loads of space, her chip and chase just bobbling dead by the finest of margins as the two USA internationals sprinted to touch down.

But it wasn’t to be. Tigers can feel proud of the heart they showed today but to the victor go the spoils and congratulations must go to a Harlequins team that brought immense physicality and guile throughout.

Full time score: Leicester Tigers 19 – 33 Harlequins