A Different Kind of Challenge:
For the first time this season, Tamworth found themselves in the unusual and very welcome position of having squad depth. With four players supporting from Sutton, the girls had 20 available, meaning five substitutes… a luxury we haven’t experienced all year.

The match began with promise. For the opening ten minutes, Tamworth dominated possession and territory, controlling the tempo and keeping the opposition pinned back. However, despite this pressure, we couldn’t quite convert it into clear scoring chances.

Then came the sting. A turnover in midfield gave Newport a sudden opportunity, and they broke away clinically to score the game’s first try. From there, the remainder of the half belonged largely to the opposition, who added a further three tries as Tamworth’s ruck defence became too passive, allowing them time and freedom to play their patterns.

Tamworth still showed flashes of quality — several line breaks hinted at what could have been — but the support play didn’t quite match the ambition.

Before the half closed, though, the girls struck back. Willow, with a brilliant solo effort, powered through heavy traffic to score a deserved try, converted by Stephanie.

Half-Time: Tamworth 7 - 22 Newport 22

Momentum Swings and Spirit Returns:
The second half saw a notable shift. Tamworth increased their determination, tightened up their breakdown defence, and began putting real pressure on the opposition. It wasn’t perfect — and there were still quiet spells — but it was enough to seize momentum.

Huge carries, strong tackles, and improved urgency brought Tamworth back into the contest. Aaliyah came heartbreakingly close to her first score, denied just inches short despite a superb effort.

The tries soon followed:
Siteri crashed over to narrow the gap.
Izzy added another with trademark power.
And finally, Siteri struck again — her second of the half — converted by Stephanie, sealing a 17–7 second-half victory for Tamworth.

Despite the final result, the response was outstanding. The girls finished the match attacking the line, and — true to form — scored on the final whistle. Their determination never wavered.

Lessons and Progress:
There were fantastic moments today, the kind that prove how high this team’s ceiling is. With greater consistency, they can challenge the best around.

Constructive learning points:
Sometimes the safest option is to take the contact rather than throw a speculative pass.

As a team, understanding that applying pressure to the opposition reduces pressure on ourselves is vital.

Reducing hesitation in attack and defence will come with experience — soon instinct will take over, and when it does, this team will be formidable.

But the effort? The attitude? The commitment? Unquestionable.

Dames of the Game:
This week, the call was firmly in the forwards’ camp — not because the backs underperformed, or because the forwards played better, but because two forwards rose above an already big shift.

Constance – Captain fantastic. Relentless in defence, destructive with ball in hand, and a true leader throughout.

Harriet – Matched Constance stride for stride. Huge tackles, brave carries, and constantly punching over the gainline. A massive performance.

A big thank you to the girls from Sutton — Sophia, Leah, Gracie and Grace — for stepping in and supporting us on the day. All four made a positive contribution, and the Tamworth girls were genuinely appreciative of the help.

A huge well done to everyone today — so many players stepped up.

Final Thoughts:
A narrow loss on paper, but a performance full of character. The girls showed resilience, improvement, and heart — and the belief that when everything clicks, they’ll be unstoppable.