Eagles soar to National Bowl Final
Perthshire Women’s Eagles have soared to the final of the National Bowl played at Murrayfield in just two days’ time.
The women’s team beat Greenock Wanderers 2XV 72- 7 in the semis and now face Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV this Saturday.
Team manager/player Suzanne Rennie said: “There aren’t enough words to describe what it will mean to win the National Bowl. But win or lose, we are putting women’s rugby in Perthshire firmly front and centre and hopefully inspiring the young girls in the youth sections of our club.”
The journey for the women at Perthshire RFC has been phenomenal this season.
Suzanne explained: “We have been working so hard for the last few seasons but this season something just clicked and there is a real buzz of positive energy in the team. When we reached the semi-final, we were shocked but ecstatic. To win it, made us proud and eager to win the final.”
Their journey to the final was peppered with defeat, but that didn’t deter the Eagles.
“Although the pool stages of the National Bowl began with defeat, we learned from it, took it forward into our other matches; keeping our mantra ‘we play our game’. We needed to ensure we had a squad to complete the National Bowl campaign and are very grateful to our friends from Aberfeldy and Crieff who have joined us. We are ready and looking forward to an amazing match on Saturday.”
Perthshire will face Hillhead Jordanhill 2XV in the Final of the National Bowl (Women’s), to be played during Silver Saturday at Murrayfield on the 6th May 2023. Kick-off will be 10:30am at the DAM Health Stadium, tickets can be bought online here: www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/?advcode=Perthshire.
Semis match report…
Rampaging all the Way to Murrayfield
Greenock Wanderers Women 2XV 7 – 72 Perthshire Women
Greenock outplayed and overpowered as Perthshire win semi-final in style.
The Perthshire women travelled down to Greenock Wanderers RFC to compete for a place in the Nation Bowl Final being held on Silver Saturday at BT Murrayfield & The DAM Health Stadium. The pressure was on and the vibes were immaculate.
The girls in Black and White started off strong straight from the kick off. It was a mere few minutes before co-captain Heather McKenzie scored the first 5 points of the day. The feisty forward then ran hard through the middle of the Greenock defence allowing McKenzie to dive over the whitewash for the second time. 10-0.
This didn’t deter Greenock at all, their offloads were strong until an unfortunate knock-on allowed Perthshire some strong scrum time. After a few phases of attack, Perthshire’s passing through the backs allowed winger Katie Whelan to scored her first try of the season, 15-0.
Greenock kicked off the restart, but Perthshire’s gap spotting and leg drive proved too strong for Greenock’s defence. Perthshire were awarded a penalty and co-captain Alex Ward’s quick reaction allowed her to slip through the defence and score under the posts. Converted, 22-0. After some quick phases, some brilliant passing from scrum-half, Paula Watson, hitting the forwards at pace, Perthshire were just too over-powering for the girls in black, red & yellow.
After some solid runs, noticeably Katie Bromley making dominant tackles and Jackie McConville closing the gaps for Greenock to run through, Perthshire were awarded a line out. With a powerful lift from Suzanne Rennie & Fiona Gordon, Bromley was able beautifully to retain possession. A penalty was soon awarded to Perthshire for Greenock coming off their feet, Fiona Gordon took this as her time to shine. Adding another 5 points on scoresheet, 27-0.
Greenock had some concrete possession, working well as a unit but were undone by unfortunate knock-ons. Safe to say Perthshire have had enough scrummaging practice to last another 4 seasons. After a tactical 8 pick and go, captain McKenzie charged through numerous Greenock girls, gaining yards, offloading onto support players sprinting up the middle of the pitch. The ball found its way back into her hands and she dived over the try-line for the third time. Almost a Perthshire record. Converted try, 34-0.
Straight off the bat, Perthshire punched holes through Greenock’s relatively flimsy defence. After some strong phases, Claire Rae utilising her leg power against the weakened Greenock forwards, Ward kicked into space. Emily Tait competed to retain possession. Being successful, Tait darted for the try-line before getting tackled just short of the line. After an award-winning pop in the air to McConville, Perthshire were able to score their seventh try of the day, 41-0.
Things were looking brighter for Greenock when they were forcing ‘Shire back on-side after a few forward pod runs. After another Greenock knock-on, Perthshire were in an ideal position up the pitch. Greenock then fumbled and Ward was able to kick and chase the ball just over the try line to score her second try, 46-0.
Heather McKenzie couldn’t get enough apparently as she fought her way through to score yet another try in this match, 51-0. Super-subs began their minutes on the pitch with a force. Danni Henderson, making a powerful impact straight away.
It was now a backs game. Time for Eilidh Patterson, to show off her evasive skills by fending off tackles and sprinting over the whitewash, 58-0. Shortly following this, a physical run from 12, Heather Kirkman, feigning off girls left, right and centre, scored the 9th try of the afternoon, 65-0.
After some questionable offloading straight into the hands of Greenock’s number 7 from Ward, Greenock seized their opportunity to get some well deserved points on the board. To finish off Perthshire’s rampage, Emily Tait scored her first try of the season, following classic offloads from the players in the middle of the pitch, it was well aligned for Tait to score the final try of the day. Conversion successful, finishing off with a Perthshire pummelling 72-7.
This has sent Perthshire into the final of the National Bowl, played during Silver Saturday at Murrayfield on the 6th of May. Kick-off will be 10:30am at the DAM Health Stadium, tickets can be bought online here: www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/?advcode=Perthshire
Greenock’s POTM – Alex Ward
Perthshire’s BOTM – Eilidh Patterson
Perthshire’s FOTM – Claire Rae
Photos taken by Jazmine Tomlinson.
