Ladies' rugby round-up
Ladies Rugby:
Borderettes start their season with a bang
Burry Port 24 - Whitland Ladies 55
Whitland made the journey to Burry Port for their first competitive outing of the season and had by far the better of a highly entertaining tussle where 79 points came, including nine tries for the Borderettes and four for their opponents.
Manageress Sue Davies was delighted by their performance and told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk,
“We are particularly delighted because we were able to give a senior selection to ex-youth players of the calibre of Ceulyn and Rosie Davies, who marked her debut with one of the tries and was also adjudged women of the match, provided by Riley Sports, by travelling supporters.”
Megan Davies certainly led the way with a hat-trick of tries, as did Marged Williams, whilst Mabli Davies claimed two tries and Rachel Norris slotted five conversions to complete a good day for the Whitland Ladies.
Blues Ladies make a brilliant start!
Haverfordwest Ladies 80 - Lampeter Ladies 0
Haverfordwest Ladies got the new season off to a flying start by running in 12 tries against their West Wales rivals Lampeter on Sunday.
But the result counts for very little, other than pride in performance, after the Welsh Rugby Union scrapped the standard women’s leagues for a new Merit Table for all non-Premiership clubs until 2020.
All Wales Sport to the rescue
It sees the competitive element removed with points instead awarded for criteria such as fielding a full side and good discipline.
Responding to the disappointment of clubs which no longer have an opportunity to compete for league titles or promotion, ‘All Wales Sport’ picked up the ball and introduced its own table and trophy for those 24 teams so Haverfordwest currently top that table after Sunday’s result.
Flying start for Swift
With both teams playing 13-a-side there was plenty of room for pacey backs, and none more so than Scarlets’ electric scrum-half Rhian Swift who flew past several defenders to touch down in the first 30 seconds, before going on to bag herself a first half hat-trick.
There were also tries for captain Emily Carrington, Jana Neumann, Holly Couzens, Delyth Foster, Ceri Coleman-Phillips and flying youngsters Anna Ridge (2) and Mali Thomas, who will be sorely missed when they head off to university this month.
Scarlets second-row Awen Prysor, currently training with Wales’ extended Autumn squad with prop Sarah Lawrence, also got her name on the scoresheet by running in a try from her own 10-metre line.
Katy sets up game’s best try
The highlight of the game came from prop Katy Lewis, whose barnstorming run from a kick off set up the try of the game, earning applause from both sets of players.
Couzens, assuming vice-captain duties this year, enjoyed a successful afternoon from the tee, kicking 10 of the 12 conversion attempts.
The game was played in good spirits with Lampeter battling hard right up until the final whistle, but the Blues’ defence held firm.
Haverfordwest will welcome the return of their captain Ali Griffiths next week when they travel to face Seven Sisters.
In the meantime they are keen to recruit new players and a coach. Training is at Haverfordwest rugby club at 7pm on Thursdays.
Panthers pounce in brilliant start
Tondu Titans 12 - Pembroke Panthers 36
Pembroke Panthers got their season off to a brilliant start with a convincing win at Pandy Park where they scored six tries and conceded only two as their defence was a strong feature of their game plan alongside some excellent attacking rugby.
Good work by Chloe Jones and Ffion Howells established an early platform for the Panthers
And from a five-metre lineout Danielle Louise La Rosa, playing in her first-ever match, earned a penalty from which a quick tap by Lauren Morgan saw her snipe over the line without a hand laid on her.
Sian Rees received the ball from the kick off and made a big run before a dominant scrum allowed the ball to be passed quickly by Gail John at scrum half to Fi Griffiths at inside centre, who scored a long-range try which was converted by Chloe Jones.
Referee Kelsey officiates well
Then referee Kelsey Jones, who was taking control of her first senior game and impressed with her firm decisions, decided The Panthers’ front row of Kirsty Fisher, Jamie Moseley and Lucy Neale were becoming too dominant and it is becoming dangerous, so calls came for scrums to be passive, as agreed with both coaches before the game.
A line break by Tondu saw Kate Thomas chase back to make a try-saving tackle, before a, barnstorming run by Ffion Howells, knocking players out of the way’ set Fi Griffiths looking likely to score, but she was tackled a yard short but Isabele Dufresney on hand to finish and score under the posts to give The Panthers a 17-0 interval lead.
Speedy restart for Panthers
Then there was a try for Pearl van Ellis directly from the kick off before The Titans had their best period of the game where they eventually broke the Panthers defensive line to score an unconverted try. After strong defence on the try line kept them out, for a long time, but eventually they managed to score.
Sustained pressure by the visitors with a series of strong runs, especially Meg Boorman, Jamie Moseley and Charlotte Lucy Johnson, led to a penalty on the 5m line which was quickly taken by Lauren Morgan, who drove for the line and with the support of Ffion Howells crashes over
Titans respond but Panthers finish in style
But the Panthers allowed Tondu a soft try directly from the KO to make it 29-12 before The Panthers produced the best passing movement of the match gave Lottie Bird the smallest of gaps on the wing. She took advantage and kicked through for Faye Stratford to give good chase and win the touchdown, with a try she also converted to round off a thoroughly entertaining tussle and a cracking win for Pembroke Panthers.
Pembroke Panthers: Kirsty Fisher; Jamie Mosely; Lucy Neale; Danielle Louise La Rosa; Ffion Howells; Isabele Dufresney; Lauren Morgan; Pearl van Ellis; Gail John; Chloe Jones; Meg Boorman; Fi Griffiths, Sian Rees, Lottie Bird, Rhiannon Griffiths; Angharad Scourfield; Kate Thomas; Charlotte Lucy Johnson; Faye Strattford;
Coaches: Rob Griffiths and Neal Spencer
First Aider: Dawn Hewitt