|
The season has finally started for the Ladies section and once again, they demonstrate their superior organisational skills by proactively nominating a match reporter, the very gifted Sheena Buchanan who even provides the Ed. with a ready made pun for the article title:
|
|
|
|
Kirkcaldy v Watsonian Ladies
|
|
|
|
Sunday 16th September 2007, Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy
|
|
|
|
“A Watsonian Di Rollo-ver against Kirkcaldy”
|
|
|
|
It was a wet outing in Kirkcaldy, for the first league game of the season for Watsonians Ladies, but the weather didn’t spoil the 8 tries romp home over Kirkcaldy. Some fresh faces in the team this year, replacing a number of players who retired at the end of last season. All showing good potential for building up the Watsonians team again.
|
|
|
|
New faces included Nikki Di Rollo, (cousin I think of Watsonian favourite Marcus), who filled the scrum half slot, and Abby McArthur from USA, worked well together in mid-field putting the Kirkcaldy defence under constant pressure. Emma Evans at inside centre had some great runs and weaving in and out of Kirkcaldy players, also some good territorial kicking from her boot.
|
|
|
|
Kirkcaldy at home and at full strength are a tough team to beat. They also with a number of Scotland international in their side, but with Watsonian Alex Pratt on the wing, rather than favoured full back, it was Pratt’s game plan to run down Kirkcaldy and Scotland winger Cara D’Silva, and not give her any space.
|
|
|
|
Watsonians started well with some great movement in the back line, although over complicating things just a bit. There was a mixture of good passing and support, but also a few dropped balls. It was 10 minutes into the game, when first on the score sheet was second row Steph Garnett. From a tap penalty on 40 meters, Watsonians kept the cool and found Steph out on the wing to send her in for 5 points. Conversion missed by Captain and Prop Louise ‘Beenie’ Fraser. 0-5.
|
|
|
|
Another try should have been on the score sheet again only a few minutes after Garnetts try, with a 3 woman overlap on the far side, with Pratt screaming for the ball to come over her way. Watsonians continued to bosh the play up the middle of the field but this obviously works, as Di Rollo picked the ball up from the back of a scrum ten metres out, presents a dummy, steps back inside to score her first try for Watsonians. Try converted by Beenie. 0-12
|
|
|
|
The tackles now were going in hard and fast and by the text book. McArthur at No10 having a blinder of a game, and tackled the very large Kirkcaldy lock forward around the ankles to bring her down with a thud. All day Sarah Jones put in Jason White type of tackles into anyone stupid enough to run at her. One of her tackles even received a big “Oooo” from the supporters.
|
|
|
|
Thirty minutes on the clock, and next to score was Emma Jones, at open side flanker. A delightful try, using her quick pace to find the gap through the Kirkcaldy defence. Conversion missed. 0-19. Unfortunately it was only a few minutes later, when Jones went down injured after twisting an ankle. Her big, wee sister Sarah Jones moved to flanker and on came new recruit Suzanne Ritchie, to slot in the second row.
|
|
|
|
Just before half time, Watsonians managed to squeeze in another try and a squeeze in it was. Scotland and Watsonian Hooker Sarah-Louise Walker threw in at the line out and collected the ball back to her up the blind side and rode a nasty high tackle to score in the corner. Conversion missed.
|
|
|
|
Half time 0-24
|
|
|
|
The rain held off a bit in the second half (notepad had time to dry out now), and Watsonians started the half as they had left the first. Constant pressure put on the defence, rarely letting Kirkcaldy get out of their half. Wing Alex Pratt had picked up the wingers disease (as Coach Johnny Sandlin described!) thinking too much about beating the defender before having the ball in her hands, resulting in a few dropped balls. Very un-characteristic for Pratt. However when it worked, she was brilliant. Linking well with full back Gemma Ryde, and centre Evans, Pratt cut a good angle and went in under the post for her first score of the day. Converted by Beenie. 0-31.
|
|
|
|
After the re-start, Watsonians were right back up there, and Hooker Sarah-Lou Walker used her pace to gain a few meters, and with the support with her, she off loaded to Evans who scored. Conversion missed. 0-36.
|
|
|
|
Next up was Di Rollo again, having a great game at scrum half. Her organising of the forwards was immense, her pace phenomenal and scored after a 40m run in. Conversion missed 0-41.
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately Watsonians lost Captain Beenie with a shoulder injury, and hoping this is not a serious one. Beeine was replaced in the front row by ex-Kirkcaldy player Louise Oglilvie.
|
|
|
|
Twenty minutes to go, and Watsonians still had enough gas in them to battle on. Kirkcaldy winger D’Silva had her work cut out all afternoon by tracking down the Watsonian flyer Gemma Ryde. However it was the other Kirkcaldy winger who put the points on the board for Kirkcaldy, from a well worked attack. Conversion missed 5-41.
|
|
|
|
Back up to the other end, Watsonians won turnover ball from a poor lineout by Kirkcaldy. Sarah Jones to McArthur who straightened up and who had Clare ‘Dickie’ Murray on the shoulder to receive the pop pass and score in under the posts. Conversion by Evans. 5-48
|
|
|
|
The most entertaining part of the game came from Murray who took the ball in the Watsonian half and had a clear run to score from 60m. Panic kicked in at the thought of having to run 60m, as she slowed down to look for support, she was caught and then knocked on the tackle. Murray had to settle for the one try she already had. Job done.
|
|
|
|
Full time Kirkcaldy 5, Watsonian Ladies 48
|
|
|
|
Player of the Match Nikki Di Rollo.
|
|
|
|
SB
|
|
watsoniansrugby.com
|
|
Published: 19/9/07
|
|
|