W 36-0

It looked like it was going to be a wet and drizzly day, but the sun came out as the second league game of Shelford’s season kicked off away at Old Leamingtonians.

Shelford started the game as they left off last week. From the kick off Shelford bossed the game with strong rucking and good hands. This was rewarded in the first five minutes with a try from centre Lizell Heather under the posts, which was successfully converted by Tia Martin. Old Leamingtonians were tackling hard and low but Shelford kept their cool and worked the phases which lead to a further try from Lizell Heather. Most of the first half was played in the Old Leamingtonians half, and with great handling and strong rucking there were very few scrums and a further two trys scored. One by winger Kim Ha, in her second game, which was successfully converted by Tia Martin, and the other from full back Lynne Pilbeam, following an awesome maul and great power from centre Kath Stokes, the ball was passed out wide with good receiving hands, the play was simple and effective. At half time the score was 24 – 0 to the visiting Shelford side.

During the second half some momentum was lost and the game turned into a bit more of a battle. As everyone got a little more tired there were a few more knock ons from both sides. There was a good battle in the scrum and from one scrum in the oppositions 10 metre a well-worked blind side move lead to a try for Charlotte Falkingham. A couple of possible try scoring opportunities were lost when one was held up and another stopped when Lottie Ayres was tackled into touch very close to the line.

Throughout the second half Old Leamingtonians scrum was strong turning over a few Shelford balls, however great counter rucking in open play meant that Shelford maintained plenty of possession. Good defending and strong rucking throughout the game allowed a further try to be run in by Lizell Heather after a simple backs move from a scrum, which was successfully converted by Tia Martin to give a final score of 36 – 0.

Team: Sasha Acheson, Josie Merry, Tamsin Irvine-Fynn, Sally Hunt, Verity Adams, Catherine Harrison, Bertille Gleize, Jen Worth, Charlotte Falkingham, Tia Martin, Laura Snowdon, Kath Stokes, Lizell Heather, Kim Ha, Lynne Pilbeam, Maggie Meacham, Meg Siddall, Lottie Ayres.

Forward of the Match: Sasha Acheson
Back of the Match: Tia Martin.