by Callum Ellis
Date: Wednesday 14 February 2018
Venue: USW Sport Park, Treforest
UNIVERSITY of South Wales confirmed their place in the semi-final of the Western Conference Cup with a resounding 61-0 victory over the University of Exeter.
A hat-trick from Freya Jones ensured Mark Hutton’s side reached the latter stages of the competition for the first time.
Exeter enjoyed much of the possession early on as they looked to replicate their third-place finish in last season’s competition. USW soaked up the visitors’ early pressure and managed to break the dead-lock after seven minutes.
Carys Rees found a gap in the away defence’s backline, before running through to score the first try of the game. Though, Freya Jones failed to convert the resulting conversion.
USW quickly doubled their advantage just after the restart as USW9 caught the ball from the kick-off, before breaking through the away defence to put her side in the driving seat. Jones stepped up to take the conversion, but the windy conditions saw her attempt also fall short of the posts.
A swift move from the hosts saw them add a third minutes later as Rees setup Jones just before the half-way mark in the opening period. USW9 decided to try her luck from the conversion, though the outcome remained the same as she saw her effort fall short.
It took 22 minutes for Exeter to create their first real chance of the game as Exeter’s scrum-half went in search of the line, before the USW defence tracked back well to her deny her.
Hutton’s side quickly turned defence into attack as Emily Hartrey pounced on a loose ball from a scrum, and dashed through to add another try to her side’s tally. The conversion was again missed by Rees.
After the restart, USW1 found a gap in the Exeter defence but she was adjudged to have knocked the ball forward and the referee awarded a scrum. From the resulting set-piece, USW quickly won possession back before Jones dived over the line to get her second of the afternoon. The conversion was unsuccessful once again as Rees’ effort fell short.
Jones was at the centre of attention again minutes later as she sprinted down the left wing and ran over to get another try in quick succession. The outcome remained the same as Rees’ effort fell short from the conversion. USW headed into the half-time interval with a comfortable lead after dominating the opening period.
And the hosts could have increased their lead even further just before the hour-mark, but flanker Hartrey was penalised for not releasing. Hutton’s side found their seventh try of the afternoon through USW9, who sprinted past the away defence to put the game out of reach just before the hour-mark.
Rees stepped up to take the conversion, and her effort was finally successful as she added two points to USW’s tally.
Exeter looked to grab a consolation try as the visitors’ second row tried her luck against the home defence, but they held firm to keep their clean sheet intact.
USW’s Emily Pratt made a darting run from the half-way line, which saw her rub salt in the visitors’ wounds. The conversion was again unsuccessful.
A strong tackle from Rees setup another attack just after the restart, before Exeter’s full-back was penalised for a high tackle. From the resulting penalty, the hosts swiftly moved the ball from left to right, and USW9 scored under the posts. The conversion was converted by Rees from close range.
USW passed the 50-point mark as Pratt drew a challenge from an Exeter defender, before her offload found Emma Owen, who scuttled over in the corner. Rees again failed to convert the conversion between the posts.
Owen quickly added her second after the restart as she sprinted from the half-way line, before touching down between the posts. The last kick of the game saw Rees thump the conversion between the sticks to wrap up a comfortable victory for the hosts.
USW will now turn their attention back to the league as they host Southampton Solent University in their penultimate game of the season.
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