Flurry in a Hurry
RVDC Ladies 26 – 98 Perthshire Women
Try heavy second half sees ‘Shire pull away and rack up a big score.
Due to a mixture of rest weeks and adverse weather conditions, Perthshire’s Women returned to competitive rugby after a 4 week break. This time playing away to Royal Dick Veterinary College Ladies RFC. The team was eager to continue their good run of form having only lost one fixture from six in their first season playing competitive league rugby. The weather in Edinburgh presenting good conditions for some flowing rugby, the Senior Women warmed up well before kick-off at 2pm.
From the get-go the ‘Shire played with structure. The forwards dominating and offloading well up the middle of the park. A back’s move was called which resulted in winger Emily Copas going through to get the first points on the board. Co-Captain Alex Ward cut through the enemy defence shortly with Sarah Blackwood successfully converting to make it 0-12.
Successive tries by fellow Co-Captain Heather McKenzie, as well as scrum half Anna Davies, took the ‘Shire Women to 0-27 after 20 minutes.
A young RDVC team, unable to penetrate the more physical Perthshire defence, managed to find space on the wing to get their first try of the match. Holes began to appear in the Perthshire line with RDVC scoring a further two tries which were all successfully converted bringing the score to 21-27 at half time.
At the break Coaches Arran Sheach and Rhys Darlington instructed the players that their defensive effort is where the game would be won. Once they could fix this issue, the rest would come.
Veteran Prop Fiona Gordon returning from injury, for the first time this season, joined the field as well as Zoe Fummey at openside flanker. Their presence was immediately felt with strong carries and hard tackling. Successive impactful carries from the base of the scrum lead to Co-Captain Heather McKenzie adding 3 more tries to her tally. With the defensive issues fixed, the backs were able to play a wider more open game resulting in a number of tries from Fly Half Chloe Bennett. All successfully converted to make it 21-44.
Due to injuries RDVC were reduced to 14 with Perthshire in good spirits, matching their numbers. Further strong carries from the forwards continued to allow Perthshire to advance up the pitch. Heather McKenzie not content with the 4 tries she already scored, decided to add an additional 4 tries to her tally in quick succession, to cement her place as the Player of the Match.
Strong carries by new winger Rhianna Lindridge and experienced centre Heather Kirkman created space which fullback Lydia McGinley took advantage of, putting Chloe Bennett into space on the wing for her 2nd and 3rd tries.
A 4th try by RDVC gave them a consolatory bonus point which for all their efforts felt deserved. After what felt like a long 80 minutes with each player leaving everything on the pitch, the ‘Shire women finished the day at 26-98 denied the tonne at the death.
The Women have their final league game away to Leith RFC this Sunday. After which the league will split in two with Perthshire already having secured their spot in the upper half.
