BSRFC Ladies hit the road up to St Neots

BSRFC Ladies hit the road up to St Neots who were currently top of the league table having been unbeaten in 9 matches.

Stortford ladies started the first half with a big head wind, St Neots had a game plan which Stortford managed to break down and using the our quick ball got it out to fullback Obama who used her seed to run over the try line. 0-5

St Neots shocked by this attack copied the style of play and used quick ball and quick feet from their scrum half to get over the line. 5-5.
St Neots kept the intensity up and turned to their big forwards to truck the ball up with lots of pick and goes around the break down area.
Stortford defence held out with some chopping tackles and ferocious ball rips from Captain Wilkins, flanker Lalonge and second row Fryer.

With possession back in Stortfords hands we started to attack their line with the ball swiftly moving along with a great pass from outside centre Goddard to reach winger Spanton who was abruptly stopped by an illegal no arms barge gaining Stortford a penalty but a devastating loss of our winger due to the injury caused to her knee. A strong line out on a windy day with a high jump from Steele but some loose handling in the break down allowed St Neots to use their quick jackling skills to turn the ball over. The Stortford defence was challenged again and after the forwards getting sucked in St Neots found a miss match and took advantage. 10-5

The contact area of the game was brutal with massive hits coming from both sides, especially Stortfords no.8 Reed, which saw the forwards fighting it out at the break down with props Augustine and Willson showing the strength of the front row allowing clean ball for scrum half Bice and Fly Half Hawkins to slickly link together to release the light footed inside centre Chapman who weaved her way through before offloading to Obama who was in for a solid try until a try saving tackle that would have been better suited to a football match.

Half time whistle.

The second half saw a changed Stortford who were determined to let home side know they were in for a tough half. The defensive line speed led by flanker Boyle saw St Neots under pressure giving stortford more possession. Ball retention was better but St neots fought back with intense level of passion that unfortunately saw a yellow card come their way. Still determined to they carried the ball into contact they were held up in the only maul of the game showing great teamwork from Stortford.

Change in substitutions brought on some on some fresh legs with Parker, Hall and Moriz adding new strength to the scrums.
St Neots battled away recycling the ball to their wider areas but faced the tackling machine of Gleed who made it clear ‘you shall not pass’.

Teaming up with replacement winger Daniels to show who is boss, however they persisted and broke down Stortford defence after many phases to break through. 17-5.

In the last few moments of what was a tough, high impact spectacle of ladies rugby – Stortford had the bit between their teeth. The forwards and backs linked together allowing King and newbie Capp to sprint the ball over the gain line.

To round the match off in a style to suit Stortford, the pack won the scrum with a slick put in from new scrum half Warrington which gave Reed the platform to kick the ball downtown with Obama chasing. St Neots in disarray as the ball bounced perfectly it was try time under the posts.

It wasn’t quite enough to seal the win with a 17-10 final score but a great game.