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Sunday, 28th October, 2007.
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Myreside
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Another bright day at Myreside (does it never rain on the WFC Ladies?) and a stiff breeze was all that could mar the spectacle as Watsonians met, once again, with the team that has determined the mid-table ending of each of the previous two seasons. Who are they? Glasgow's premier Women's side Hillhead-Jordanhill. Both home and away, these clashes have always been tight with the Myreside favourites on the losing side. Had the fired-up performances of late against the big guns of the Women's game in Scotland prepared the team enough for a stern test against Hill-Jills? Well....
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The crowd was the usual stalwart few, with the addition of a visiting Canadian referee of Miss Pratt's acquaintance. Fresh from two weeks separating the lads from the other lads all across the Lothians he wanted to see a game before jetting back to Ontario. Not a flashy 'give it to the quick girl and sit back' spectacle but one that proved with no doubt that both sides were determined, committed and eager to win.
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In a tense first half, Hill-Jills were hardly ever out of the Sonians half. More often than not camped on the 22 line trying to break down the iron of the Sonians defence. Each encroachment toward the try line was held back. Each penalty was contested in a disciplined manner with each of the Hill-Jills' fullback speculative kicks being fielded by Pratt and the other members of the back three. Emma Evans was again immense in her tackling ably assisted Kate Ho and by the gutsy Sarah Jones who did bounce a lot off the running Hill-Jills attack but always recovered.
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The one incursion into the opposition's half by Sonians was due to a brace of penalties that sneaked them close to the 22m line. But it was not to be as a lineout deemed not straight by the referee lead to a scrum. The Hill-Jills defence was stretched as Sonians ranged across the park trying to break through but in the end the ball was kicked away. The sideline highlight came at this point as the youngest member of the supporters, (shall we call him RB?) tripped over the first aid ice bucket and landed on his rear.
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But still no further toward the line the whistle blew for half-time.
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HT 0-0
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Second half and the sun was still making its way through breaks in the cloud. Sonians now had both the sunshine and the breeze at their backs and Evans used it as much as she could to gain distance on her kicks to touch. It wasn't long before it happened. That break in the game as Evans pushed up through the centres as they back-pedalled in defence, with a great support to give a final run-in to Annabelle Barlow in the top right corner. 5-0. No conversion and the Ladies having to defend the tenuous lead.
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This did not change the overall feeling of the game, although everyone tired, they all were still striving to push forward. In fact a period of concerted pressure by Hill-Jills had them over the line and at a distance it was feared a score had resulted. But, almost unbelievably, there was no score and the ball was taken for a scrum. Then, as it was kicked away, Sonians were safe again to defend and slide slowly up the park. The tackling remained awesome (and I use the term advisedly) and the defence so tight you could have bounced a shilling on it! There were injuries, of course, some worrying like that to Jenni's arm, other the scrapes received from an intense game in the tight five and against a hard tackling and rucking opponent. Cries of 'Keep it tight' were not required as the defence held on to the lead. A final chance of points as a penalty was given away in front of the posts, but it was not to be. So near......
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Final Score Watsonians Ladies 5 Hillhead-Jordanhill 0
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Scorer : Try; Annabelle Barlow
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Player of the match: Anna Pana
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KSV
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watsoniansrugby.com
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Published: 1/11/07
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