It was the scrum half’s penalty in the semi-final against COBRA that saw the Whitland-base side through to the home of Welsh rugby and she once again delivered the goods when it mattered most when she landed her first kick of an amazing game as she improved a try from Elen Morris with a little bit of assistance from the cross bar.
That put the west Walians into the lead for the first time in the game and they successfully negotiated the final, frantic four minutes to notch a famous victory.
Two evenly matched teams gave every ounce they had to give in a game that looked for long periods to be going in the way of the Go.Compare Player of the Match Sienna McCormack’s side the Quins.
It was a clean break from McCormack that saw her streak away for the first try and then add the extras. Her play at outside half, with the daughter of current Cardiff Rugby and Wales centre Willis Halaholo, Israel, alongside her causing many midfield problems for the Tigers.
But it was a case of Tigers by name, and Tigers by named as they fought back with a try from Rhianwedd Green to cut the gap to two points. Back came the Quins with their second try, from Anwen Ropke, which McCormack converted, but once again the Tigers hit back with a try from their outstanding No 8 Sophie Lewis that meant it was 14-10 at the break.
The Quins started the better in the second half and another piece of magic from McCormack put them further ahead. After cutting the line on her 22 she ran over half-way before chipping over the final defender.
Now it was a footrace for the ball and after hacking on again on the Tigers 22 she was cynically hauled down. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and Quins led 21-10.
But that was as good as it got for them. The Tigers refused to give up and instead dug in – and dug deep.
With replacement forward Sabrina Semaani taking a leading role, along with skipper and full back Alice Morgan and star centre Sara Murray, they somehow smuggled Semaani over the line and then used Morris as a battering ram to bag the try from which Fuller earned hero status for her winning kick.
WRU Hub U16 Girls Plate – Cardiff Quins v Taf Tigers
Cardiff Quins: Caitlin Rowe; Isabelle Rees, Issabelle Hopkins, Israel Halaholo, Leah Keyworth; Sienna McCormack (captain), Livy Kuropatwa; Willow Borley, Kaitlyn Hook, Ffion Nicholls, Isabelle Cory, Genevieve Miles, Skyla Morgan, Eos Hopkins, Angharad Matthews-Thomas
Reps: Bethany Dawkins, Brooke Graham, Maddie Whelpton, Erika McIntyre, Vuli Waqalevu, Anwen Ropke, Emily Graham, Maddison Greenway, Scarlet Addicott
Scorers: T: S McCormack, A Ropkem Pen Try; C: S McCormack 2Taf Valley Tigers: Alice Morgan (captain); Maddison Morris, Emily Palmer, Sara Murray, Keziah Rees; Darcy Abbot, Grace Fuller; Milly Lee, Lucy Lewis, Lily Williams, Elen Morris, Cariad Morgan, Tia Davies, Shannon Walsh, Sophie Lewis
Reps: Rhiannedd Green, Poppy Llewellyn, Rhianna Hughes, Milli Rees, Gwen Thomas, Sophie Llewellyn, Sabrina Semaani
Scorers: T: R Green, S Lewis, S Semaani, E Morris; C: G FullerGo.Compare Player of the Match: Sienna McCormack (Cardiff Quins)
