THE Carmarthen Warriors women’s side, the Flamingos, have enjoyed a great start to their 7s  season.

The Flamingos travelled to tournaments in Chester and Newquay last month, winning the first one and narrowly missing out on a semi final spot in the latter.

In Chester, they opened their campaign with a 54-0 hammering of the home club’s second team, the Chester Blues. Whitland’s Heather Rees starred as she crossed four of her side’s nine tries.

 

Next the Flamingos faced Scottys Soldiers, a charity army side who'd beaten them in the same tournament in 2013.

And the Carmarthen based team came through a physical encounter, with tries from Rees and Whitland team mate Angharad Williams securing a 12-7 win and setting up a clash with Colwyn Bay in the semi finals.

The Flamingos produced a rampant display, with Penybanc player Brittony Price scoring four times, and Rees twice, in a comfortable 32-0 win.

This meant a final clash with Scottys Soldiers, and things looked bleak for Sara Davies’ team as they trailed 12-0 at half time.

But after the break the Flamingos upped the ante, and Rees and Price both notched a brace of tries, with three conversions from Whitland’s Rachael Norris – to seal a superb 26-12 comeback win.

"I'm so proud of the hard effort the girls put in,” said coach Davies afterwards.

“It's great to come away with a main tournament win in only our second season. The mix of girls who played last year along with some new faces really worked well.”

Squad: Brittony Price (Penybanc); Rachael Norris (Whitland); Alice James (Whitland); Cath Davies (Whitland); Angharad Williams (Whitland) Heather Rees (Whitland); Keeley Evans (Kidwelly); Sara Davies (Whitland).

Then in the Newquay Surf 7s, the Flamingos were drawn with fellow Welsh sides Pencoed Phoenix and Dreigiau 7s, Bideford, Lufbraabas, and Wipeout Whites.

Their opening game was against the latter, and they eased to a 45-7 with Price crossing four times, and Whitland’s Natalie Walsh grabbing a hat trick. Norris added five conversions.

The second pool game was against Dreigiau 7s. The Flamingos trailed 14-0 at half time and despite a late try and conversion from Norris, were edged out 14-7.

 

The Flamingos were then handed a 25-0 walkover win due to Luftbraabas pulling out of the tournament, before their fourth scheduled match against Wipeout Whites.

And it proved to be their best display of the day, with tries from Whitland’s Alice James and Rhian McCulloch,  Kidwelly’s Keeley Evans, Walsh (2), and Price (2). Norris added six conversions to complete a 47-0 win.

 

The Flamingos final pool game was against an imposing Pencoed Phoenix team.

Tries from Evans, Whitland’s Gemma Robinson, Mculloch and Norris, who added four conversions, sealed a 28-5 win.

Unfortunately, the win was not enough to secure top spot in the group, and the Flamingos missed out on a semi final place as they finished second.

 

Afterwards, Walsh said she was proud of the way the side played.

“Travelling up with only eight players was always going to be tough but we came  away with some fantastic results.

 

“ I’m especially proud of the way the girls played against the very strong Dreigiau 7s, we kept them at bay for much of the game and there was only one try in it.”

Squad: Natalie Walsh, Alice James, Rebecca Norris, Rachel Norris, Rhian McCulloch, Gemma Robinson (all Whitland), Keely Evans (Kidwelly), Brittony Price (Penybanc).