Mueller bows out with late score as Hawks triumph

HENLEY Hawks Women celebrated their first Championship South Division 1 win of the season in emphatic fashion last Sunday as they defeated Sutton and Epsom Ladies at Dry Leas.

The thrilling match also marked the final appearance for Hawks’ Lauren Mueller, who is heading to Australia.

Henley came out firing on all cylinders from the first whistle. Quick hands saw the ball worked out to Gianna Noble-Cunningham on the wing, who sprinted clear to touch down for the opening try. Unaisi Bulivuata added the extras to make it 7-0.

Henley kept up the pressure and were soon rewarded when a powerful maul from a line-out drove deep into the Sutton and Epsom territory, a good pass out from Polly Roberts released Bulivuata to dive over the try line, which she converted, to make it 14-0.

A yellow card for Nina Poletti meant Henley had to dig deep with 14 players, and Sutton and Epsom took advantage of the extra space to score their first try, closing the gap to 14-5 at half-time.

The Hawks started the second half strongly, dominating possession and territory. Despite being held up over the line, a moment of quick thinking from Bulivuata saw her tap and go from a penalty to secure her second try of the game. Fern Edgar stepped up to slot the conversion and extend the lead to 21-5.

Henley’s defence was tested as the visitors piled on the pressure, spending nearly
15 minutes camped near the try line before eventually breaking through for their second try.

Henley quickly responded with a penalty within range coolly converted by Fern to make it 24-10.

Sutton and Epsom scored a converted try to narrow the margin to 24-17. From the restart, the Hawks surged upfield, with Hen Lowen-Cooper racing for the line before being high tackled from behind. The referee awarded a penalty try and a yellow card to the visitors, pushing the score to 31-17.

With momentum firmly back in Henley’s favour, there was just time for Mueller to power her way over the line for her last ever try in Hawks colours.