Nottingham BC Ladies V Shelford Ladies.
60 – 8
07.03.10

What a lovely day for rugby. The sun was shining and the winter weather appeared to be having a day off. Shelford Ladies were set as they could be with 13 players to travel to Nottingham. The journey started off late after missing boots and road works on the A14! This all just appeared to add an extra challenge to the Ladies when they already knew they had a big fight ahead of them.
A saving grace en-route gave the Shelford Ladies a boost with an extra player! One of the Shelford Ladies who has moved to Sheffield to study answered their plea for help, with less than three hours to go until kick off they were back up to 14 players! Phew! Although with one player down the Ladies already knew that it was going to be a tough fight and Nottingham did not disappoint in providing that.
The first half started with some promise and poise from both teams. Shelford Ladies were playing into the sun as they kicked off. Shelford showed great promise with their defence and rucked hard, but alas the Nottingham team took a missed tackle opportunity with quick ball down the line to score the opening try of the match. The conversion was missed. This was followed by a second try after a great maul by the Nottingham forwards, and the lack of a forward player was really noticed as Shelford got pushed back allowing Nottingham to take advantage and score.
Shelford Ladies did not hang their heads and came back fighting, with hard rucking they worked their way into the oppositions 22 and from turnover ball, points were finally put on the board with a brilliant drop goal by Shelford fly half Tia Martin. Shelford Ladies continued to fight hard and the rucks were stable and solid, but Nottingham had the advantage and were quick and well organised. A greatly improved scrum from Shelford’s side showed the hard work that had been put in over the last few weeks and the Nottingham pack had to work hard. Nottingham came back hard at Shelford, but a great effort from full back Lynne Pilbeam holding a try up denied Notting ham more points before half time. At half time Nottingham lead 15 – 3.

The second half began with a missed tackle and Nottingham adding points to their board. Shelford really began to notice the difficulty with a missing player and were working hard to cover the pitch. Nottingham looked organised and were playing a good ball from a forwards ruck with a quick ball to the backs, passed down the line allowing them to score again, several times in quick succession. Shelford Ladies did not hang their heads, and came back with a great run by winger Lottie Ayres, a strong ruck and beautifully placed kick by Tia Martin, allowing Jen Worth the run onto the ball and score a try between the posts.
Nottingham came back fighting with hard rucks, and well organised play that was just to much for Shelford’s 14 allowing them to run in several more tries, leaving the final score as 60 – 8 to Nottingham.
 
This match made all too clear the need for the Ladies to sign up a greater number of players, and to achieve better attendance at training.  Nottingham were a well drilled side but with more practice and a few more players the Ladies could have beaten them.

Forward of the match: Josie Merry
Back of the match: Kath Stokes

Team: Sasha Acheson, Josie Merry, Tamsin Irvine-Fynn, Sally Hunt, Catherine Harrision, Bertille Gleize, Jen Worth, Ingrid Baker, Tia Martin, Lottie Ayres, Laura Snowdon, Kath Stokes, Kim Ha, Lynne Pilbeam.