RFU Intermeadiate Cup quarter-finals Old Leamingtonians 12 Bury Foxes 15 With a coach full of supporters, the Foxes travelled to the Midlands to play higher league opposition in the RFU Intermediate Cup quarter-finals, writes Ashley Cook.

The opening exchanges were a little nervy from both sides. At times, the Foxes were able to move the ball out to the wings where full-back Stephanie Durrant, accompanied by wingers Florence Webb and Chantelle Higgins, were able to make early in roads and stretch the Old Leams defence.

Throughout the season, the Foxes have been excellent at capitalising on unforced errors from the opposition and the breakthrough came off an error from Old Leams on their 22-metre line.

With the Bury defensive press strong, the ball found its way to the floor before being quickly scooped up by Emily-Jane Stearn who used the outside space available to her and crossed for the all important opening score.

The score was soon doubled from an attacking scrum deep inside the Old Leams half. Stearn picked up from the base of the scrum, dispatched the oncoming flanker, and off-loaded to Georgie Palmer who used her speed and agility to get over the try line to make it 10-0 Bury at the break.

If the first half was an arm wrestle between two very talented sides, the second half became a total war of attrition.

Old Leams came flying out of the blocks and got their strong runners carrying from deep directly at the Foxes fringe defence. With their gathering momentum and determination they crossed for a try within five minutes.

This similar style of play continued throughout the second half and the game put the Foxes in a very unique position which they had not experienced all season – being under extreme pressure for a long period of time.

The gathering pressure saw Old Leams cross again and covert their try, putting them in front by two at 12-10.

The Foxes however once again refused to be defeated and Georgie Palmer took a quick tap penalty inside the opposition half to catch the home side off guard and put the Foxes back in front to stay at 15-12.

The win was only preserved though as Natalie Palmer and co managed to hold up an Old Leamingtonians try as the last act of the match.