Ormskirk RUFC

Manchester WRUFC     5

Ormskirk Ladies         20

Tries : T Fisher (2), G Kendall, J Galbraith

A hardcore of Ormskirk Ladies were ably supported by membes of the punative Wigan WRUFC and a trio of transpennine rugby gypsies to take on Manchester on Sunday.  It was a mixed bag; a rock hard No 8 and a fearsome centre at one end of the spectrum and, at the other, two girls propping for the first time.  Playing your first game in the front row against Manchester is rather like choosing the north face of the Eiger for your first climb.  But the girls acquitted themselves bravely and, most importantly, survived.

Any team that take on the bulk and brawn of Manchester must chant the same mantra … move it away from their forwards … but it’s easier said than done.  They all appear to be forwards.  The Ladies set out to play their usual free- flowing game of quick hands and fast support and it paid early dividends with centre Titilia Fisher powering in for the a try.

Buoyed by this the Ladies stupidly decided to take on Manchester at their own game.  With coach Sam Botfield raging on the sidelines the Ladies set up a maul 5m from the Manchester line.  Much to his annoyance No 8 Jenni Galbraith drove through the score.

With the Honeymonsters - prop Jen Schofield and hooker Lesley Kenny - having particularly fine games the Ladies continued to win ball and score tries.  Wing Gail Kendall notched her 15th of the season before Girl of the Game Fisher smashed her way through the make it 20-0.  With the game not even half way through Manchester looked to be in for a battering.

But the cuddly immensity of the Manchester pack had a Siren like lure for the Ormskirk runners and time and again they were drawn into their gruesome embrace.  Slow ball or no ball was the outcome and the home side began to exert a firm grip on the game.  A try increased their confidence and an unwelcome period of desperate defence ensued.

However, this season the Ladies have developed a nice line in obdurate defence.  Scrum half Anna O’Malley, fly half Jenny Leitch and centre Titilia ‘I’ll kill yer’ Fisher smacked into tackles with unladylike relish.  And when Manchester held it in the forwards the Honeymonsters were there to half their driving mauls.  So, muddied, bloodied, but definately unbowed the Ladies chalked up their 12th win of the season.

Report by Sam Botfield