Borderettes complete deserved double
PHOTO:
Player of the match Natalie Walsh with Ian Williams of Riley Sports Photography
Picture curtesy of Riley Sports Photography
Women’s Premiership Rugby:
Whitland 31 - Cardiff Met 19
Whitland Ladies completed the double over the students from the Metropolitan University, Cardiff in a hard-fought encounter on Sunday.
The Green and Whites played with the howling wind at their backs in the first half but didn’t make much use of it as they continually ran at the Students defence, which held firm for the first quarter.
The first points of the game came after a scything break in mid field by Sioned Harries saw her race away from the cover defence to score out wide, the resultant conversion by Harries was on target but a bit of a daisy cutter thanks to the person holding the ball forgetting to let go as the kick was taken!
First try for second row Rachel
Second row Rachel Norris scored next for the Borderettes as after her initial break she supported play well and followed up a kick ahead to score her first ever try in senior rugby before Harries added the extras from wide out.
Harries again popped up to claim her second try after some good initial work by player of the match Natalie Walsh, whose burst up field led to a ruck from which quick ball was moved wide for her to crash over.
The Students scored the last points of the half when ex-Pembs girl Ellie Norkett fielded a kick ahead and brushed through some poor defence to score out wide before the extras were also added, leaving the half time score at 17 – 7.
Good Borderettes’ defence pays dividends
With the wind at their backs the Cardiff team were always going to be a handful in the second half as they kicked intelligently and looked to release their dangerous backs at every opportunity - but the Borderettes’ defence held out with Nat Walsh and Elin Hywel to the fore along with their dominant scrum.
With their first attack of the second half a neat training ground move released Whitland full back Heather Rees, to release a pass off to Caryl Griffiths, who was held up over the line - but from the resultant scrum No8 Walsh picked up and burst through the blind side defence to score; Harries adding added the extras.
Students press hard until late penalty try ruins their hopes
The rest of the half belonged to the students who threw everything at the Whitland defence and two scored two quick tries and converted one. With the score at 24 – 19 and the students on top it looked like they may sneak the win but the Borderettes’ defence held out.
With the last play of the game Whitland powered up field and a kick ahead resulted in a scrum to the home side which Walsh controlled well at the base and as she was about to touch down an illegal hand pushed the ball away and the ref had no choice but to give a penalty try, which was converted by Harries from the last kick of a highly entertaining game.