Despite going three tries down in the opening half, Antlers came through strongly in the last half an hour, playing some fine rugby and scoring an excellent team try.

The improvements as the game wore on meant Teddington headed home with plenty of positives from the match and lots to work on ahead of the second friendly and then season opener.

Hammersmith got off to a strong start in the 30 degree heat and capitalised on a turnover to score after ten minutes. Teddington were guilty of being a little too loose in contact on the floor and Hammersmith were able to build lots of pressure as a result of turnover ball.
The game – played in three 25 minute thirds - saw a number of players in new positions with Penny Carr and Clare Brown prominent in the loose up front, while Emma Davis and Emma Kennedy put in some fine defensive displays out wide.
The home side scored two fortunate tries in the second third, both a result of rusty mistakes from the visitors - one a charged down kick and another a break from space left close to the ruck - and it was a frustrated Teddington side who returned for the last half an hour.
Teddington were the dominant side in this period, with strong defence coupled with some excellent offloading. The hard work in this period was rewarded with an excellent try out wide with almost 10 players touching the ball in the buildup and Brown burst through strongly to score out wide. An excellent kick from Bruce Hickey saw Teddington reduce the gap to 10 on the final whistle.

Key positives from the game were excellent set-piece showings – a perfect return from both scrum and lineout – while there was a strong defensive commitment in the face of plenty of pressure.

There will be lots to work in the weeks ahead as the ladies next face Premiership 2 side Old Albanian Saints in the second pre-season friendly.