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‘Tip-top, tantalising table-topping tussle’
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Murrayfield Wanderers vs Watsonians Ladies 7.10.2007 KO 2pm
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at Murrayfield
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Can you believe it was another sparkling rugby day for the two teams fighting for the definitive claim to the Womens’ Premier top spot? Watsonians coming off the back of a steady victory over Aberdeenshire Quines and Wandies from a good win at Kirkclady.
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Although this game could be described in your reporter’s usual blow-by-blow account, there was so much action and all of such a high standard that it was hard to take it all in.
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Watsonians were aggressive and challenged Wandies from the kick-off with numerous attacks in both the centres and on the wings. The five minute mark had them camped in the opposition 22 – a feature of the match acknowledged by the Wandies Captain during her after-match speech. So much possession was had by Watsonians, but it was not their day as slight handling errors denied full exploitation of the advantage.
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The first score of the match came as, after a fine run by Alex Pratt (having and inspired game first on the wing then at full-back) a chance ball fell to Wandies who scampered over the line in the top right corner. With no conversion this meant Sonians were still in touch; the score 5-0.
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This spurred Watsonians on further with some excellent interplay between the centres and wings and tackling from Emma Evans, as one wit put it “Putting the fear of ginger into them!” Indeed. Sonians impressed mostly in this match by their dedication to the tackle, excellent rucking and scrummaging which any team in the leagues would envy. Hooker Sarah-Louise Walker had an exceptional game, winning a number of balls against the head and helping the assured Sonians line-out to function with hardly a blip.
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Again it was another knock-on in a flurry of attacking play, that allowed Wandies to run away with a loose ball and score after 27 minutes giving 10- 0 and after a successful conversion 12-0. This could have slowed a weaker Sonians side but they picked themselves up to fight on. The rucking being the best-driven witnessed by many since last season’s Women’s Six Nations. Sonians recovered from a tendency to nform a little flat in the centres to create a hole for Anna Panayatopolous to storm through under the posts unhindered. A conversion by kicker Evans (again enjoying success at this and her deftly placed penalty kicks) gave a respectable half-time score of 12-7.
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Half –time Wandies 12 Watsonians 7
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The second half of this clash began with intensity as once more Sonians reacted to Wandies’ pressure and, as all physicists know would happen, sent it back in equal measure.
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Bodies put on the line mean injuries and this game was no different as stoppage time increased. Concentration was maintained by both teams as play restarted each time which meant there was no feel of loss of continuity. After one such break Pratt sped up the pitch to take a finger-tip ball in the air after an attempt to clear by the Wandies fullback.
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Both sides had their share of penalties as offside was called as well as ‘over the top’ at rucks (a sure sign of strong driving). Sonians were being severely tested all through the final quarter of the match. Defence was tight but not enough to prevent the speeding Wandies fullback heading over the line (although a game attempt was made). 17-7 with five minutes to go. Still Sonians harried the Wandies defence, another slow lineout put-in by Wandies gave the last chance of the game to score but it wasn’t to be.
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Player of the Match Annabelle Barlow
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Again, the whole team played well and I defy anyone to say anything different.
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KSV
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