Only fourteen players and many out of position meant a shaky start for the Mary’s ladies this week. Within just a few minutes Cullumpton had scored and converted their first try and a few minutes after that scored another.
This left us 12 – 0 down with only ten minutes played, but we weren’t going to let that stop us and then started playing like the team we were supposed to, by starting to put in some tackles and be more organised in defence. Also having our 15th player Tracey Garrett arrive was a big help!

This is when we started playing real rugby and from the next kick off, we started playing some ball. After some great attacking play by the forwards and the backs, we were awarded a penalty. This was quickly taken by Carmen Etheridge, who made some good ground; some secure rucking allowed the ball to be passed out into the backs where Rachel Amphlett hit through at the inside centre position with great pace to put our first points on the board. The try was very skilfully converted by our hooker Layla Barron, who cleanly booted it between the posts.

Cullumptons kick went high and was superbly caught by outside centre Jen Appleford, who by the way has finally found her game winning form that had struggled to come out in the last few games. More excellent running with the ball, clean rucking and good handling brought St Mary’s into the oppositions 22 in no time and a break through the line by winger Faye Dixon came close to a try, but she was tackled just before the line.
We were camped in their 22 for the last quarter of the first half and continued to run well with the ball in hand, but unfortunately gave away a penalty.
It turns out that kicking is not their strong point and the ball was kicked into touch for them to throw in about 15 metres from their own try line. Our immense pressure forced them to kick to touch from this position, which gave us an attacking line-out, still in their 22 zone.

St Mary’s secured the line out very well, and then proceeded to drive the ball from here; and what a drive it was. We must’ve pushed them down the field an easy 15 metres before they had to resort to pulling it down to stop us. Our penalty.
A tap and go out to the backs was the chosen call, but unfortunately we knocked on to give them the relief of a defensive scrum. After some more great pressure in defence, they were unable to bring the ball out of their 22 as a clearance kick landed straight into the hands of Gabi Hopf who ran it straight back at them.

A few phases later we passed the ball through the hands and Stacey who was standing on the wing (not sure why, but I’m glad she was!) missed a try by inches as she fought to stay in when three men tackled her into touch right next to the corner flag. So close!
Half time score 7-12 down.
Soon into the second half, Cullumpton picked up their game and were into our 22 area pretty quickly. They were awarded a penalty, which they opted to kick and scored another three points. Hmmm, perhaps kicking is their strong point. The score now lay at 7 – 15.

There was a great chase from the next kick off and we quickly were able to turn the ball over and use it to our advantage, but a later knock on meant the Cullumpton were allowed to attack once more. A few phases later Cullumpton were breaking through the line and due to some poor defence on our part, they were gifted another try. They converted again making the score at 7 – 22. There were about twenty-five minutes remaining at this point in the game. We were still within a bonus point, but one more score from them and we wouldn’t be.

We were soon back to fighting spirit and in the next few minutes our backs proved they could really motor, Rachel and Jen hit the ball at pace, working as a spectacular centre twosome and broke through the line on many occasions and looked a real threat to their defence, especially when Jen broke the line for the umpteenth time and was only brought down by their last defending man – our hearts were in our mouths! Jen, where has this come from you whipper- snapper?!!

By this point in the game everyone was starting to feel the strain, so we brought on fresh legs with Colette Powell replacing Helen Buckley in the front row. These fresh legs really helped us pick up our game and we managed to turn over a high number of their scrums in the last quarter.
We then continued with our incessant attack and eventually scored a well earned try after Bridget mullered her way over the line from a quick tap penalty. Well done from a girl who’s too injured to play and only played because we were short. You did ok for a cripple! (Is that PC?).

Unfortunately we were unable to convert so the score was 12-22 with about ten minutes to go before full time (and a yummy chilli waiting in the club house).
We started going backwards from our next kick off – it seems they were rather incensed by us scoring again. We gave away a penalty in our own 22 – this was dangerous ground as another unanswered converted try from them, would put us out of the running for a bonus point. They opted for a line-out, but we managed to keep their attack at bay by tackling them into touch, mostly by good communication and brute force from Colette and new to our team this week Sophie.

Two minutes of play remaining and they were still a little too close to our line for comfort. We unfortunately lost our line out and again they tried to attack, but were tackled into touch. Eventually we were awarded a scrum on our five metre line and we kicked to touch to end the game.

Well done to those who played out of position, your inexperience certainly didn’t show and well done to everyone for keeping your heads up. Shame we didn’t win, but lots to learn from and lots to be confident about.

Players of the match

Bridget - for some great attacking with ball in hand, strong rucking and being all over the park despite being injured.

Jen – for awesome direct running, breaking their line, great tackling and finally getting your confidence back. And that is how it’s done.

Well done too to Gabi who played some great ball at full back and was always in the right place at the right time.

Written by Beth Clayton