SHELFORD v LAKENHAM HEWITT

After a rainy summer we were fortunate enough to have clear skies for our opening friendly and dispositions were equally sunny as we welcomed Lakenham Hewitt to our ground. With an intense pre-season behind us everyone was keen to get stuck into actual match play.

Shelford Ladies got off to a great start with a try straight from the kick off by Trina Potter, showing just what our backs could do with quick ball. This set up a fairly even first half with plenty of work for the forwards in rucks and mauls. Beginning of season rustiness meant there were quite a few errors, so the game had little chance to flow around the scrums and penalties. Eventually though in the second quarter we broke through for another put down by Sarah Roper, which she duly converted.

Tiredness in the second half meant our discipline in defence sagged and Lakenham were more able to run at us. We pulled it together where it mattered though; despite a large portion of the half spent inside our own 22, Shelford defended the line with gusto, even holding up three tries in quick succession. All this hard work caused us to revert to type, the tackles moving ever higher, but there was no arguing with the effectiveness of Donna’s smash though.

Towards the end of the game we were again pushed toward our own line, but managed to hold ground so that at the final whistle the score still stood at 12 – 0.  Though there is plenty to work to do before the season starts in anger, we were very encouraged that our fitness levels were noticeably higher than this time last season, and that we have the drive to defend our line when it really mattered.

Players of the match were Amanda for great work around the park and super interference in the lineouts, and Kim for being absolutely right where she was supposed to be, the entire game.