Dundee Decisively Dispatched

Dundee Valkyries 12 – 72 Perthshire Women

Perthshire Women secured a decisive 72-12 victory over Dundee Valkyries in their opening match of the season. Despite the overcast conditions, it was a great day for rugby, and Perthshire made a strong start from the kick-off. Early touches from Claire Rae and Suzanne Rennie, both returning from injury, set the tone, and Perthshire’s scrum was dominant throughout.

Perthshire’s first try came from a breakaway by Alex Ward, with excellent support play from Paula Watson and an impressive finish by Lydia McGinley. Ward successfully converted, putting Perthshire up 7-0. They soon extended their lead with a try from Watson after a clever kick and chase, though the conversion was missed. Dundee answered back with their first try, but failed to convert, leaving the score at 12-5.

Perthshire continued to dominate with powerful runs and sharp passing. Alex Ward added another try, converting it herself to extend the lead to 19-5. Strong play from Paige Klinkman and teamwork led to another try by Sarah “Rocky” Blackwood, which Ward converted, pushing the score to 26-5.

Dundee fought back and scored their second try just before halftime, narrowing the gap to 26-12. The second half saw Perthshire maintain their momentum, with Lily Beaton scoring shortly after the restart. Sophie Buggins added to the scoreline with another try, and Beaton soon scored her second.

Perthshire’s relentless attack continued with contributions from Becca Carroll, whose strong run kept play in Dundee’s half, and Beaton completing her hat trick. Sophie Buggins scored again, and Heather McKenzie added another try after a clever dummy from Ward, who converted to make it 53-12.

As the game neared its conclusion, Lisa Hamilton-Martin powered through the Dundee defence to set up Buggins for her hat trick. Despite a yellow card for Alex Ward, Perthshire’s defence held firm, and they continued to push forward. Beaton scored again for her third try, and after returning from the sin bin, Ward capped off a dominant performance with a try under the posts, with Libby converting.

Perthshire’s commanding 72-12 win showcased their strength, depth, and skill, setting a high standard for the season ahead.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson.