Hopes of a trip to Twickenham for the Iceni were dashed at Raven Park on a dry but cloudy Sunday afternoon when they took on the Warriors from Somerset, when the visitors scored 5 tries and a penalty with the Iceni notching up just 2 tries in reply.

Coach Graham Seal said after the match that the players put in a valiant effort but were up against a better team. Having only formed as a team about 5 years ago, to reach a national semi final of the Papa Johns Ladies Cup was a great achievement for the Colchester side and a tribute to the girls’ dedication and hard work under the tutelage of Seal and his fellow coaches Danny Whiteman, Corey Button and Clarice.

Warriors kicked off and immediately their fullback burst through and scored a converted try. Back came the Iceni and attacked at the other end of the pitch for flanker Kat Richardson to go over for a score that her fellow flanker, Katie Gemal, converted evening the score at 7 - 7.

There followed 10 minutes of intense rugby before the Iceni were awarded a scrum on half way but the visiting forwards managed to turnover the ball, moved it to their speedy fullback who broke through the defence, ran 40 metres to score her second try.

On the half hour mark the Warriors attacked again and earned a penalty just 10 metres from the Colchester try line. A tap and go move by their scrum half took her over the line for their 3rd score bringing the half time score to 7-19.

‘Power ups’ Danisha Rajoo and Anna Fox came on for Megan Davies and Yas Amber respectively at the interval and the second half started with Iceni kicking off.

Warriors then showed why they have won their last 12 games with a display of fast running rugby but the Iceni weren’t lying down and tackled their hearts out in defence with Anna, Queenie and the Phillpot sisters leading the aggression.

However the impasse was broken when the visitors won their scrum 5 and the ball was moved quickly to their fly half who went over for a converted try making the score 7-26. Shortly after this Warriors’ outside centre intercepted a Colchester attack and sprinted through for another converted try making it 7-33.

Urged on by the large group of spectators Iceni fought back and earned a penalty 15 metres out. The forwards piled in to the ensuing maul resulting in Katie going over to score an unconverted try improving Iceni’s score to 12-33.

Back came the Warriors and soon were awarded a penalty on Iceni’s 22 metre line. Their reliable right wing put the ball between the sticks to give Warriors the victory that they deserved.

The Iceni plus coaches and supporters were very disappointed as you would expect but congratulated the winners and wished them well in the final at Twickenham.

Player of the Match was right wing Jade Baker and the Under the Radar award went to 2nd rower Jess Sydenham.