By Adam Evans
UNIVERSITY of South Wales Women’s head coach Mark Hutton praised his side’s reaction in today’s 20-17 victory over the University of Gloucestershire, after last week’s loss against Southampton University.
After being 12-5 down at the halfway stage, USW fought back to victory in the second half. Three second-half tries, with the decisive score being the last play of the match, was enough for USW to scrape victory at the Sport Park.
“I was pleased towards the end, unlike last week when we maybe gave up a little bit,” he said.
“The message at half time today was about the desire to play well for each other, they want to score tries and they want to win.
“Throughout the second half that was the message that was going through Keely Ward (the
captain).
“It was a tight affair, but I had all confidence in the girls that they were going to dig deep and they did come good in the end.”
Hutton’s side were defeated 24-15 last week in their season opener and he admitted that some of the players were shocked by the intensity of the game.
The Head Coach said: “Last week’s defeat against Southampton did play quite a big factor.
“I think the feedback from the players at the end of the game was that it might have been an eye-opener for them.
“Some of them, especially the freshers, were a little bit shocked at the intensity of the game and the physicality.
“In training, they reacted well and came back with a really good attitude to do well. They came out today all guns blazing.
USW are currently without three key players; Georgia Evans, Jordan Hopkins and Megan Webb have all been called up to the Wales squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.
Hutton added: “Unfortunately for us as a squad we lose them when they are in the Wales camp and we wish them all the best.
“Credit where credit is due, Georgia Evans for one, week in week out is attending training and is always supporting the girls.
“She comes to support us on gamedays on a Wednesday, then in the evening she goes off to the Welsh camp. We can’t ask more than that from them.”